FLORENCE, Ala. — A pair of tight victories highlighted Saturday's match between the Freed-Hardeman University Lady Lions tennis team and the University of Tennessee Southern FireHawks. FHU fell in the match 5-2.

The Lady Lions (2-3) lost both contested doubles matches while the final doubles match was a default loss. First Morgan Brown and Hannah Pierce fell to their opponents 6-0 while Kennley Kirk and Elise Kruzan also fell 6-0.

After falling 6-1 in the first set, Elise Kruzan battled back to defeat UTS's (1-0) Victoria Sanches 7-5 to force a third set, where the sophomore claimed the match with 1-6, 7-5, 10-6. Hannah Pearce also needed three sets on the No. 2 court, winning the first 7-5 before dropping the second set 6-1. Pearce picked up the set and match win over Sienna Ruberto with a 7-5, 1-6, 10-4 victory. Morgran Brown fell to Yen-Ju Chang 6-2, 6-3 on the No. 3 singles court, while Kennley Kirk fell 6-4, 6-4 to Leovanna Viamonte. In the final contested match Savanahh Corbitt lost 6-2, 6-0 to Sheyla Zambrano. The sixth singles court ended with a default victory to end the 5-2 match.

Freed-Hardeman vs. UT Southern
Florence, Ala.

Doubles
1. Yen-Ju Chang/OtoneOdajima (UTS) def. Morgan Brown/Hannah Pearce (FHU); 6-0
2. Emely Castro/Leovanna Viamonte (UTS) def. Kennley Kirk/Elise Kruzan (FHU); 6-0
3. Abbey Rumble/Sienna Ruberto (UTS); def. FHU; by default

Singles
1. Elize Kruzan (FHU) def. Victoria Sanches (UTS); 1-6, 7-5, 1-0 (10-6)
2. Hannah Pearce (FHU) def. Sienna Ruberto (UTS); 7-5, 1-6, 1-0 (10-4)
3. Yen-Ju Chang(UTS) def. Morgan Brown (FHU); 6-2, 6-3
4. Leovanna Viamonte (UTS) def. Kennley Kirk (FHU); 6-4, 6-4
5. Sheyla Zambrano (UTS) def. Savannah Corbitt (FHU); 6-2, 6-0
6. Abbey Rumble (UTS) def. FHU by default


*Story edited on 2/25/24 to correct opponent lineup