Steven Rowell/ contributing writer
FIU tennis Head Coach Katarina Petrovic had a shake-up in her doubles line-up in hopes of getting better doubles results from her FIU tennis team. But while the lineup was different, the results were still the same.
For the third straight match the Panthers failed to cash in on a doubles point and found themselves on the losing side of a 4-3 contest against Southern Illinois on March 12, dropping FIU’s record to 2-9.
With the usual number one duo of senior Rita Maisak and freshman Aleksandra Trifunovic in place, it was junior Giulietta Boha and Senior Magali Holt at the number two position for the first time this season, and at the number three it was two freshmen in Lotte Gras, and Carlotta Orlando.
“Mag and Giulietta won three matches in the fall playing together, and Mag has a really positive attitude and Giulietta was struggling a little bit with negativity, so I thought it would work out to be really good,” Petrovic said. “I thought they played well but the other team was better, and they looked like they played a lot together.”
“Some of the girls didn’t play their best, but we all six have to give 100 percent, that’s how we always can have the best chance to win,” Petrovic said.
Maisak and Trifunovic lost 8-3, and then Holt and Boha fell 8-3 to give the Salukis a 1-0 lead.
The Panthers fared much better in singles play but was still not enough to prevent a third straight loss. Despite the loss, Boha and Orlando continued to be bright spots for the Panthers
Boha won her fourth singles match in five games, winning in straight sets 6-1, 6-3.
“It was good to see her win her singles match, especially being up 5-0 in the second set, and seeing her get the last win after she struggled in losing three games after winning the first five,” Petrovic said.
With the match already decided, Orlando won her seventh singles match of the season, which is the most by any player for FIU this season.
Trifunovic rounded out the scoring for the Panthers as she bounced back from a tough singles loss to Michigan State last week with a 4-6, 6-1, 10-4 victory.
It was still not enough. Losses by Holt, freshman Michelle Sabado, and Maisak decided the fate for FIU.
Maisak now has struggled lately losing two straight singles matches and two straight doubles. In terms of what she needs to do to get back on track, Petrovic thinks it is the attitude more than anything for the senior.
“I have known Rita from before at South Carolina, it is matter of if she is willing to compete one day or another day, but it’s mainly her attitude,” Petrovic said.
FIU will look to regroup and get back on track Friday, March 15 when Purdue University comes to town. The match is set for a noon start.