Women's tennis team tops St. Petersburg in Region 8 match

The Eastern Florida State College women's tennis team edged St. Petersburg Thursday in a Region 8 match at Titan Tennis Center.

In a match that lasted over four hours, the Titans picked up the 5-4 victory to pick up their first Region 8 win.

Tied 4-4, the match came down to the No. 4 singles match between Maria Gento and St. Petersburg's Maria Moskaltsova. Gento won the first set 6-3 and tyhen lost the second set 7-5 to force a third set.

Leading 3-2, Gento played some great defense, returning shot after shot and eventually took a 4-2 lead. It would become 5-4 with Gento serving for the win.

The match would go to a deuce and each player had a chance to win the point. Gento began cramping and battled for every ball. She managed to pick up the win, 6-4.

At No 5 singles, Sara Ladino won the first set 6-1 but Ai Katsura came back to win the second set and force a third set. In the third set, Ladino once again got things going to pick up the 6-2 win.

Thais Mitlmeier won her match at No. 6 singles in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4.

In doubles, Eastern Florida State College took the early lead as the No. 2 doubles team of Gento and Mitlmeier won 8-5 after battling back to take a 6-5 lead. As she did in her singles match, Gento made some nice plays at the net to hold serve and then got the break to win the match. The No. 3 doubles team of Ladino and Elena Martinez Prado also won 8-5.

Eastern Florida State College will be back at Titan Tennis Center on Saturday, playing the State College of Florida, Manatee in a Region 8 match beginning at noon.