Jonathan Jacobskind/Staff Writer
sports@fiusm.com
The FIU Panthers dropped their 3rd straight home loss this Friday in the hands of the No. 49 Brown University Bears, losing 6-1, sinking to a 5-13 overall record for the 2012 season.
“It was just one of those days that just didn’t go our way,” Applebaum-Dall’au said. “We just need to regroup and get ready for next Friday and finish the season on a high note. Bottom line we need to get ready for Conference play with the Sun Belt Tournament coming up.”
Right out of the gate FIU played themselves into a hole as they went winless in doubles going 0-3. Even the dynamic duo of Senior’s Lisa Johnson and Christine Seredni could not take down the Brown Bears tag team of All-Second team Ivy League Senior, Carissa Aboukakre alongside Ft. Lauderdale’s own and freshman, Laura Wiley.
Despite the high velocity serves and powerful returns, Johnson and Seredni came up short in a 8-5 loss.
Junior Rita Maisak and freshman Sarah Mclean, who claimed the only win for FIU, also added to the Panther’s woes in doubles suffering a 8-5 defeat to Brown’s other All Ivy League second teamer Cassandra Hertzberg and Sophmore Jessica Harrow.
“I definitely did not think I played as well as I could in doubles,” Mclean said. “I just need to stay focused and keep playing aggressive.”
FIU wrapped up doubles with a lackluster performance from Sophmore, Giulietta Boha and freshman Nina Djordjevic, as Brown’s Misia Kraowski and Julie Flanzer shut them out, 8-0.
As for singles, the Panthers could not claw their way back and get the victory, tallying just one win out of the six individual matches. Mclean was the lone Panther of the pack to clinch the win, as she started slow by dropping the first set 3-6, but regained her composure and came back with a vengeance in the second set, winning 6-4. This set victory sent the match into a tie-breaker where Mclean sealed the deal with 10-8 win beating Cassy Hertzberg.
“I think I really picked it up in singles,” Mclean stated. “I’m very proud the way I fought back and won the match.”
Lisa Johnson could not follow up on her spectacular performance versus FAU, and didn’t seem as if she came out with the right energy, dwindling to a (6-3, 6-2) defeat to Brown’s Harrow.
Maisak also came out on the losing end of (6-2, 6-2) of a slugfest by getting defeat by Junior Misia Kraowski. Maisak just could not establish a consistent rhythm. as went for the kill shot on almost every point and did not focus on hitting the open spots on the court.
Djordjevic avoided a serious facial or head injury in her (6-3, 6-1) loss as she lept and dove onto the court in attempt to salvage a point. The side of her face only inches away from the hard surface, was uninjured and popped right back up and finished the match.
Junior Magali Holt, who has not seen action all season, filled in for Giuletta Boha, as she could not shake off the rust falling to a (6-2, 6-0) loss in her 2012 debut.
The Panthers play host to the Fresno State Bulldogs, April 6th where the Bulldogs look to avenge their 4-2 loss to FIU back on January 27th. The match is set for a 1 p.m. start at the FIU Tennis Center.
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