CHICAGO – Coming into Sunday’s match, the IUPUI women’s tennis team was looking for a weekend sweep after defeating Wisconsin-Green Bay, 5-2, yesterday afternoon, but the Jags came up just short falling to Chicago State, 4-3, at the Chicago State Tennis Courts.
 
The loss moves IUPUI to 1-5 on the season, while the Cougars upped their record to 2-4.
 
“Today was tough because the girls did everything we asked of them, but Abbey [Neff] just wasn’t able to finish after getting hurt there in the third set,” said interim head coach Pat Nickell. “However, I’m really proud of the way we played this weekend. We took the doubles point in both matches and I think we learned a lot about what kind of team we have.”
 
The Jags were the first to strike in doubles action as Abbey Neff and Rachael Bridegroom won by a break, 8-6, at the second doubles spot. Needing another doubles win to take the early lead, Jesika Bays and Jaclyn Hyman delivered that win by another 8-6 score to give IUPUI the doubles point.
 
In singles action, Chicago State took the momentum winning at the No. 6 spot and No. 1 spot to go in front, 2-1. However, Modesto came back and equaled the score at two following a 6-3, 6-2 win at No. 3 singles.
 
The Cougars claimed a win at the No. 4 slot to retake the lead, but Bays evened the score again for IUPUI with a three-set, come-from-behind win at the fifth position to turn the focus to the final match between Neff and Carynne Lloyd.
 
Neff got out to an early lead in the opening set only to watch Lloyd rally for a 7-5 opening-set win. Neff regained her composure and cruised to a 6-1 second-set win to even the match, before claiming an early break to go in front 3-1 in the third set.
 
Unfortunately for Neff and the Jags, she went in for a volley leading 15-0 in the fifth game of the final set and came down with an injury during the point. Neff went on to lose the fifth game and attempted to give it a go during the next game, but she was unable to finish resulting in Lloyd winning by retirement.
 
The Jaguars are back in action on Friday, Feb. 8, when they travel to Normal, Ill., to take on Illinois State. The match is set to begin at 8 p.m. ET.
 
Chicago State 4, IUPUI 3
Doubles
1 - Emeralda/Perez (CSU) def. Hullett/Modesto (IUPUI) – 8-5
2 - Neff/Bridegroom (IUPUI) def. Lloyd/Noel (CSU) – 8-6
3 - Bays/Hyman (IUPUI) def. Navarro/Grinvalde (CSU) – 8-6
Order of finish: Doubles (2, 3, 1)
 
Singles
1 - Emeralda (CSU) def. Hullett (IUPUI) – 7-6 (3), 6-1
2 - Lloyd (CSU) def. Neff (IUPUI) – 7-5, 1-6, 2-3 (ret.)
3 - Modesto (IUPUI) def. Noel (CSU) – 6-3, 6-2
4 - Perez (CSU) def. Bridegroom (IUPUI) – 6-2, 4-6, 6-2
5 - Bays (IUPUI) def. Navarro (CSU) – 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-2
6 - Grinvalde (CSU) def. Hyman (IUPUI) – 6-2, 6-2
Order of Finish: Singles (6, 1, 3, 4, 5, 2)