Steven Rowell/ Contributing Writer
The Green Wave of Tulane University came into FIU ranked No.39 in the country on March 26th. For the FIU tennis team, Tulane felt more like a tsunami , as the Green Wave blanked the Panthers 4-0 dropping FIU to their sixth straight loss, equaling their longest losing streak of the season. With the defeat, FIU drops to 2-12 on the season.
“I felt that we fought well, but Tulane was better and they had more depth,” Head Coach Katarina Petrovic said. “It’s really hard when you have to put players out of their original position.”
Before the start of the match, the Panthers already found themselves at a disadvantage. Senior Rita Maisak and freshman Michelle Sabado sat out with injuries and are currently day to day and freshman Aleksandra Trifunovic was battling a fever. With only five players available, the Panthers forfeited the number three match.
That made things easier for Tulane, as the Green Wave only needed to win one doubles match to claim the doubles point. That win came from the duo of Tulane’s Carolina Magnusson and Caroline Thornton as they defeated the duo of senior Magali Holt and junior Giulietta Boha 8-3. Freshman Carlotta Orlando and Trifunovic were trailing 6-5 in their doubles match but was called off after the other doubles match was decided.
“It was tough for [Trifunovic] since she didn’t practice for two days, and they [Orlando and Trifunovic] performed okay with Aleksandra being 30 percent of her strength, and it was good that she managed to stay and act like she was 100 percent,” Petrovic said.
FIU being shorthanded would once again cost the Panthers as they forfeited the number six singles match, giving Tulane a 2-0 lead before singles play began. The four and five positions went Tulane’s way giving the Green Wave the two points needed to claim the team victory.
Holt suffered another defeat in straight sets losing 6-0, 6-1. Freshman Lotte Gras was downed in straight sets 6-1, 6-1 ending the match right then with the other three singles matches called off before finishing.
For the first time in three matches, Orlando was unable to record a singles victory. The freshman was up one set and was leading the second set 3-1 before the match was called off. Orlando was the only FIU player winning in their singles match before being called.
Next up, Panthers will host Brown University on March 29. The match is set for a noon start.
