Eastern Wayne Today

The Wayne State University women's tennis team, ranked No. 23, faced a challenging match against Keiser University on Saturday afternoon in Miami Shores, Florida. The Warriors were defeated 6-1 by the top-ranked team in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), according to the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA).

In doubles competition, Wayne State was unable to secure any points as all three pairings lost their matches. Anais Ruyssen and Dea Gorgidze, playing in the No. 1 position, initially led 4-1 but ultimately fell to Violet Apisah and Patricia Apisah with a score of 7-6 (8-6). Shantala Uzcategui and Malak Arafat were tied at two games each before losing four of the next six games to Eloise de Mooji and Isabela Alvarez Mercante, resulting in a 6-4 defeat. Juntine Beaulieu and Dessyre Obedencio won their first game but then dropped six consecutive games to Liza Velykorodna and Vanja Vidanovic, ending with a score of 6-1.

In singles play, Ruyssen competed against V. Apisah in the No. 1 position but was defeated 6-0, 6-2. Arafat claimed Wayne State's only victory by defeating Cato Tangkau with scores of 7-5, 3-6, and a tie-breaker set of 10-8 after trailing early in the first set.

Gorgidze faced de Mooji in the No. 3 slot but lost her match with scores of 7-5, 6-0. Beaulieu played against Velykorodna in the No. 4 position and was defeated with scores of 6-0, 7-5.

Uzcategui competed in the No. 5 spot against Alvarez Mercante and lost both sets with identical scores of 6-3. In the No. 6 position, Obedencio was defeated by Vidanovic with straight sets of 6-0.

Wayne State will next compete against Barry University on Sunday at Buccaneer Tennis Center.