MIAMI, Fla. — FIU handed UTSA its second consecutive setback and fourth in the last five matches overall with a 4-3 victory on Friday afternoon.
The Roadrunners (9-10) jumped out to an early 1-0 lead after securing the doubles point.
After UTSA won on the third court in a walkover, the Panthers (9-6) evened things up when Yana Koroleva and Nina Nagode blanked Jacobea Junger and Miriam Rosell Canudas, 6-0, at the No. 1 position. However, the Birds came out on top at the second spot when Nicole Karaklis and Alena Shichkova teamed up for a 7-5 triumph against Valentina Briceno and Nerma Caluk.
It was all FIU in singles play, as it won four of the five matches that were contested.
The Roadrunners' lone victory came from Karaklis, who won her 11th tilt of the season. The junior from San Antonio outlasted Kaitlin Brozovich in three sets on court four, 3-6, 7-5, 6-0.
UTSA's other point of the day came at the sixth slot, as Irene Gandara Gonzalez won in a walkover.
The Roadrunners will continue their weekend road trip in the Sunshine State with a 9 a.m. (CT) match on Sunday at Florida Gulf Coast (5-9).
FIU 4, UTSA 3
Doubles
1. Koroleva/Nagode (FIU) def. Junger/Rosell Canudas (UTSA) 6-0
2. Karaklis/Shichkova (UTSA) def. Briceno/Caluk (FIU) 7-5
3. Garcia-Diaz/Hallgren (UTSA) def. Brozovich/No Player (FIU), walkover
Singles
1. Yana Koroleva (FIU) def. Miriam Rosell Canudas (UTSA) 6-3, 6-2
2. Nerma Caluk (FIU) def. Jacobea Junger (UTSA) 6-1, 6-4
3. Nina Nagode (FIU) def. Alena Shichkova (UTSA) 6-2, 6-2
4. Nicole Karaklis (UTSA) def. Kaitlin Brozovich (FIU) 3-6, 7-5, 6-0
5. Valentina Briceno (FIU) def. Lina Hallgren (UTSA) 2-6, 6-3, 6-2
6. Irene Gandara Gonzalez (UTSA) def. No player (FIU), walkover
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (6,1,3,2,5,4)