MIAMI, Fla. (2/24/13) – The Arkansas State women's tennis team fell to 2-3 on the season and 0-3 against Sun Belt Conference opponents after a 5-2 loss to Florida International on Sunday.

The Red Wolves were able to win the doubles point again for the fourth time in five matches this season.  ASU's No. 1 pair of Janie Nowland/Ioana Teu defeated FIU's duo of Rita Maisak/Aleksandra Trifunovic 9-7, but A-State's No. 2 pair of Tamara Slijepcevic/Biljana Miloshevska dropped an 8-2 decision to FIU's pair of Giulietta Boha/Carlotta Orlanda.  Arkansas State's pair of Jess Heeps-Eriksen/Sofia Krsmanovic clinched the doubles point for the Red Wolves with an 8-2 win over Magali Holt/Michelle Sabado of FIU.

“I was proud of our doubles again today,” ASU tennis coach Marina Engelbrecht said.

The singles competition didn't go ASU's way however as Heeps-Eriksen was the lone winner with a 7-6(5), 6-2 victory over Sabado.  Slijepcevic was able to win her first set against Orlando, but lost the next two sets and fell by a score of 2-6, 6-2, 6-4.  Nowland fell in a tough match to Maisak 4-6, 7-6, 6-2 and Teu lost in straight sets to Trifunovic 6-1, 6-2.  Miloshevska was another straight set victim as she lost to Boha 6-2, 6-2, while freshman Chiara Stefanov was defeated by Holt 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.

Engelbrecht added, “We played a good competitive match today.  We need to close out the opportunities we have to win matches.  Overall we played with a lot more heart and desire.”

A-State's next match is scheduled for March 2 against Northwestern State.  Action in Natichitoches, La. is set to begin at 11:00 a.m.

Singles Competition

1. Carlotta Orlando (FIU) def. Tamara Slijepcevic (ASU) 2-6, 6-2, 6-4

2. Rita Maisak (FIU) def. Janie Nowland (ASU) 4-6, 7-6, 6-2

3. Aleksandra Trifunovic (FIU) def. Ioana Teu (ASU) 6-1, 6-2

4. Giulietta Boha (FIU) def. Biljana Miloshevska (ASU) 6-2, 6-2

5. Magali Holt (FIU) def. Chiara Stefanov (ASU) 4-6, 6-4, 6-2

6. Jess Heeps-Eriksen (ASU) def. Michelle Sabado (FIU) 7-6, 6-2

Doubles Competition

1. Janie Nowland/Ioana Teu (ASU) def. Rita Maisak/Aleksandra Trifunovic (FIU) 9-7

2. Giulietta Boha/Carlotta Orlando (FIU) def. Tamara Slijepcevic/Biljana Miloshevska (ASU) 8-2