MIAMI SHORES, Fla. -- The No. 23-ranked Wayne State University women's tennis team (2-1) fell 6-1 to Keiser University (7-2) on Saturday afternoon.  Entering the contest, Keiser was the No. 1-ranked squad in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) according to the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA).

HOW IT HAPPENED
DOUBLES
The Warriors were unable to secure a point in doubles competition, as all three pairings were defeated.

In the No. 1 position, Anais Ruyssen (Nantes, France / Enfants-Nantais [Keiser]) and Dea Gorgidze (Tbilisi, Georgia / Tbilisi Public School N145 [Western Michigan]) fell to Violet Apisah and Patricia Apisah 7-6 (8-6).  The Green and Gold duo amassed a 4-1 advantage before a late surge from the Seahawks pushed them above WSU.

Shantala Uzcategui (Hoyo de La Puerta, Venezuela / Unidad Educativa Colegio Madre Matilde [Walsh]) and Malak Arafat (Alexandria, Egypt / Lycée Français d'Alexandrie) were tied at two games apiece with Eloise de Mooji and Isabela Alvarez Mercante before the KU duo claimed four of the next six games to prevail 6-4.

Despite winning the first game, and jumping on top 1-0, Juntine Beaulieu (Montreal, Que. / Collège de Montréal High School) and Dessyre Obedencio (Warren, Mich. / Cousino) dropped the following six as they were thwarted by Liza Velykorodna and Vanja Vidanovic 6-1.

SINGLES
Ruyssen battled with V. Apisah in the No. 1 singles position, but fell 6-0, 6-2 to the Keiser student-athlete.

Arafat claimed the sole victory for Wayne State, as the junior toppled Cato Tangkau 7-5, 3-6, 10-8.  In the first set, the WSU student-athlete was trailing 3-2, before winning five of the ensuing seven games to earn the victory.  In her tie-breaker set, their were three lead changes, with the Warrior prevailing 10-8.

Gorgidze and Beaulieu both stumbled in the No. 3 and No. 4 slots respectively.  The redshirt junior competed against de Mooji, being defeated 7-5, 6-0.  The sophomore fell to Velykorodna 6-0, 7-5.

Competing in the No. 5 and No. 6 spots were Uzcategui and Obedencio.  Uzcategui was topped 6-3, 6-3 by Alvarez Mercante while Vidanovic earned a victory over Obedencio 6-0, 6-0.

UP NEXT
The Wayne State women's tennis squad will compete at No. 3-ranked Barry University Sunday, March 8 at 10:00 AM with matches set to be played at the Buccneer Tennis Center.