DeLAND—Stetson and Richmond battled as far and as long as two tennis teams can before the Spiders out-lasted the Hatters for a 4-3 win, Wednesday at Mandy Stoll Tennis Center.

The Hatters (3-6) lost their third straight match, all them coming by a 4-3 score. The final three singles matches on Wednesday went to three sets. But it wasn't just singles play which was close.

Doubles play went the distance as well, with Stetson coming out on top. Richmond (6-5) opened doubles play with a 6-3 win at No. 3 before the Hatters rallied for a pair of 7-5 wins at court one and two. Isabella Fernandez & Arijana Korac clinched the doubles point for the Hatters with their victory at No. 1.

Richmond evened the match with a win at No. 6 singles. Eveline Lepinay gave the Hatters a 2-1 lead with a 6-4, 6-2 win at No. 1. The win was Lepinay's seventh of the season.

The Spiders tied it up with a win at No. 5 before Korac earned a three-set victory at No. 4, winning 5-7, 6-2, 6-2. Korac tied Lepinay for the team lead with seven singles victories.

Korac's win would be Stetson's last. Isabella Fernandez lost the second three-set match of the afternoon, falling 6-3, 4-6, 2-6.

Richmond gained the victory when Brittany Boys downed Maja Salibasic 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 at No. 3.

Stetson next hosts Samford, 4 p.m., Friday.

--SU--