Women's Tennis Drops Third-Straight Match

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University women's tennis team suffered its third consecutive spring loss as the Bulldogs dropped a narrow 5-4 decision at nationally-ranked Northwest Missouri State on Wednesday (March 10) afternoon in Marysville, Mo.

The Bulldog women fell to 10-8 overall with the loss while the 44th-ranked Bearcats improved their season mark to 2-1 this year with the home-opening victory at the Frank Grube and High Rise Courts.

Northwest Missouri State's Lisa Pendrak and Veronica Castilla teamed to earn an 8-3 win at number two doubles over FSU's tandem of Natalie Diorio and Mary Coleman and both earned two more points by winning in singles play. Pendrak defeated Tiffany Rheynard, 6-4, 7-6, at number two singles while Castilla earned a 6-4, 6-4 win against Ferris freshman Tabitha Simpson at number three singles.

Northwest’s Erika Leston won a second-set tiebreaker to beat Amy Ingle in straight sets at the number one singles flight. Meanwhile, the Bearcats' Sureena Weir defeated Melissa Flowers, 7-6, 6-4, at number four singles for the final team point for the hosts.

Ferris recorded wins in doubles play at both the first and third flights to take a 2-1 edge heading into singles competition.  However, the Bearcats managed to pull out wins in the top four singles positions to notch the victory.

FSU's top doubles team of Ingle and Rheynard were 8-3 winners while Flowers and senior Daniela Dimas pulled out an 8-6 victory at third doubles.  In singles play, Ferris managed to win both the fifth and sixth singles spots as Diorio claimed a three-set tiebreaker at the number five flight and Coleman was victorious in straight-sets at the bottom of the lineup.

Ferris State visits Southwest Baptist (Mo.) on Thursday (March 11) for a 1 p.m. (EST) non-league encounter before wrapping up its annual spring break trip at Washburn (Kan.) on Friday (March 12) with match time set for 10 a.m. (EST) in Topeka, Kan.