ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. – The No. 8 Hawai'i Pacific University opened their Florida swing on a sour note on Friday, falling to No. 2 Nova Southeastern (Fla.) 4-1 in the Battle of the Sharks at Sanlando Park.
 
The eighth ranked HPU Sharks (12-6) took the doubles point from the second rated NSU Sharks (19-2) before Nova collected four singles wins for the match.
 
NSU won at No. 3 doubles with Karolina Snita and Zala Dovnik beating Valentina Mokrova and Marta Ruszczynska 6-1. But HPU answered with 30th ranked Shaline Pipa and Marleen Tilgner stunning second ranked Natalie Espinal and Chantal Nosievici 6-2 at No. 1. The Pacific Sharks then won the point at No. 2 with Elodie Busson and Mihoki Miyahara downing Diane Follin-Arbelet and Julie Razafindranaly 6-4 for the 1-0 advantage.
 
But the top and bottom of the singles order wasn't kind to the Hawaiians on Friday. No. 73 Nosievici won at the six position against Ruszczynska 6-3, 6-0, and second ranked Espinal won at No. 2 against Busson 7-5, 6-1 to give NSU the 2-1 lead. Follin-Arbelet defeated Mokrova 6-3, 6-3 at No. 5 for a 3-1 lead.
 
The feature match at No. 1 saw sixth ranked Razafindranaly beat HPU's 13th ranked Pipa 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 to win the match.
 
In the unfinished spots, one long set had completed at No. 3 singles, with NSU's 34th ranked Snita leading 18th ranked Tilgner 7-6 (9-7). Then at No. 4 HPU's Miyahara one the first set against Dovnik 7-6 (7-4), but trailed 4-0 in the second when the match was halted.
 
The road doesn't get any easier for the Sharks as they take on No. 3 Saint Leo on Saturday at Sanlando Park. Match time is slated for 6 a.m. HST (Noon EDT).