LAKELAND, Fla.-    The men's and women's tennis team travelled up to Lakeland to face off with Southeastern University. The women fell 3-6 to the #19 ranked Fire in hard fought matches. The Fire were able to win all three of the doubles matches but the Royal women came back and won 3 of the 6 singles matches. Nhatalia Ocampo (3-0) stepped up and was able to win her singles match from the #1 position 6-7 (4-7), 7-6 (7-4), 10-6. All sets were close but Ocampo was able to take the final 2 sets to come away with the victory. Paula Ordonez won her singles match 6-3, 6-3 in the #4 position along with Amber Najjar winning her match from the #6 position 7-5, 3-6, 10-7.

The men were able to come away victorious on the day with a 6-3 win of their own over #23 ranked Fire. Rafael A. Coutinho and Rafael E. Coutinho were able to take down the Fire doubles #1 team 8-6. The Coutinho brothers are undefeated in doubles play this season so far. Francisco Perafan, ranked 50th player nationally, and Renin Gambim were able to win their doubles match from the #3 position 9-8 (7-1) to take two of three doubles matches. In singles play, Rafael A. Coutinho, in the #1 position, Francisco Perafan, in the #2 position, and Rafael E. Coutinho, in the #3 position, were able to make easy work of the Fire. R.A. Coutinho won his match 6-0, 6-1, Perafan won 6-1, 6-3, and R.E. Coutinho won 6-4, 6-1. In the #5 position, Rafael Da Luz came away with a 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 victory to give the Royals the 6-3 advantage on the day. 

The Royals men's and women's tennis team will next play on Saturday February 27 against St. Thomas in Winter Haven.