Kissimmee, Florida - The SUNY Oneonta women's tennis team completed its Florida spring training trip today, coming up short against Lake Forest College 7-2.  After several days of competition in the Orlando area the Red Dragons were looking to secure to salvage a victory before heading back north.
 
Opening with the doubles, the team of junior Samantha Butcher (Sidney/Sidney Central) and senior Marina Salzano (Katonah/John Jay) got their first victory of the spring season and initial triumph together as a doubles tandem taking third doubles in a very tight match winning 8-5.
 
Going into singles play down 2-1, the Red Dragons were still in position to gain the upset from Lake Forest but could not get over the hump.  No. 1 singles player, senior Brynn Sussman (Highland Mills/Monroe-Woodbury), had to retire early in the match due to illness putting the Red Dragons in an immediate hole.  However, Salzano, playing at No. 4 singles rallied back from a one-set deficit and took the second set in a tiebreaker.  That forced a 10-point super tiebreaker to decide the match. Salzano jumped out to a 9-2 lead and then held off a late rally and won by a score of 10-7.
 
Butcher found herself in a similar set of circumstances losing the first set before rallying to take the second set 6-4 to force the super tiebreaker.  Butcher took a 6-5 lead but lost the next five points and succumbed fighting off exhaustion and cramps.  The valiant effort was applauded by her teammates.
 
Freshman Samantha Felice (Seneca Falls/Mynderse Academy) and junior Michelle Spencer (Homer/Homer) fought hard in their matches but were outmatched and had to accept defeats.
 
The Red Dragons head north and have two weeks to prepare before they go on the road and take on Hamilton College on Saturday, March 28th beginning at 10am.