NASHVILLE – IUPUI women's tennis hung tight but ultimately lost to Belmont 4-2 on Friday night (Feb. 23) for their third-straight defeat.
 
In the doubles matches, Valeriia Lavrenchuk and Krystal Grubb continued winning their ways, taking the No. 1 doubles match, 7-6 (8-6). The Jags (3-6) eventually lost the doubles point, falling in the No. 2 match 7-6 (7-4).
 
Mariella Pessina and Samantha Mayer earned the two points for IUPUI in the singles matches. In her No. 3 match, Pessina earned a straight-set, 6-3, 6-1 win. Mayer had a tougher time in her win, losing the first set 7-5 before coming back to win set two 6-1 and take the final set 6-3.
 
Belmont took the match, winning the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 5 singles matches.
 
The Jags will continue play in Tennessee when they take on Austin Peay tomorrow (Feb. 24).
 
Singles matches
1. Plaksina (Belmont) def. Valeriia Lavrenchuk (IUPUI) – 6-3, 3-6, 6-2
2. Hawkins (Belmont) def. Krystal Grubb (IUPUI) – 6-4, 6-3
3. Mariella Pessina (IUPUI) def. Allen (Belmont) – 6-3, 6-1
4. Samantha Mayer (IUPUI) def. Brackin (Belmont) – 5-7, 6-1, 6-3
5. Sheldon (Belmont) def. Molly Nguyen (IUPUI) – 6-1, 6-1
6. Marina Schneiger (IUPUI) vs. Christiansen (Belmont) – 4-6, 0-2, unfinished
 
Doubles matches
1. Lavrenchuk/Grubb (IUPUI) def. Hawkins/Allen (Belmont) – 7-6 (8-6)
2. Plaksina/Sheldon (Belmont) def. Mayer/Pessina (IUPUI) – 7-6 (7-4)
3. Johnson/Brackin (Belmont) def. Nguyen/Schneiger (IUPUI) – 6-2