ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – The Lee University women's tennis team lost for the first time this season with a 7-0 defeat to No. 5 Flagler College Tuesday afternoon at the Flagler Tennis Center. The Lady Flames dropped to 6-1, while the Saints improved to 5-3.

Flagler grabbed an early advantage in doubles competition as Lee's Mirjanan Ragastovac and Elizaveta Gnilozubova retired, although they were leading 3-0 at the time. The Saints secured the doubles point with a No. 1 doubles win. Micaela Maiz and Maria Duarte were 6-4 winners at No. 2 doubles.

Matina Ujdur fell 6-0 and 6-1 to Dana Heimen at No. 3 singles and Maiz was beaten 6-0, 5-2 by Nadja Meier at the second position to put the hosts ahead 3-0. Ashleigh Simes, ranked No. 24, lost to No. 6 Luisa Hrda 6-1, 6-3 at No. 1 singles as Flagler secured the team victory.

Addison S. Breunich dropped four points to win at No. 6 singles against Hayden Smith. Gnilozubova lost both sets 6-3 to Eryka Kruk at the fourth position.

Duarte lost her opening set with Charlotta Buss 6-4 and forced a third set with a 6-2 second-set win. Buss outlasted Duarte 11-9 in the third set tiebreaker to claim No. 6 singles and complete the shutout.

The Lady Flames return to the DeVos Tennis Center on March 16 to take on University of Texas at Tyler. The non-conference match is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.