In front of a strong home crowd, the Illinois Springfield women's tennis team opened its home slate Saturday but fell 6-1 to the visiting Michigan Tech Huskies at the Springfield Racquet & Fitness Center. UIS claimed the doubles point to start the day but was unable to convert several tightly contested singles matches.

UIS jumped out to an early advantage by taking two of three doubles matches. At No. 1, Niamh Grogan and Ema Norma Bordean earned a 6-4 win, while Cristina Mendoza Romero and Jane Carter secured a 6-3 victory at No. 3 to clinch the doubles point. The Prairie Stars' No. 2 pair of Alisha Deogaonkar and Maria Garcia Gama fell 6-0.

Singles play proved highly competitive, with half of the matches going the distance. Bordean dropped a three-set match at No. 1, 4-6, 6-1, 6-0, and Mendoza Romero also went three sets at No. 2, losing 0-6, 6-0, 6-4. Grogan fell 6-2, 6-1 at No. 3, while Deogaonkar lost 6-2, 6-2 at No. 4. Carter battled in straight sets at No. 5 but fell 7-5, 6-2, and Garcia Gama pushed her No. 6 match to a super tiebreaker before falling 2-6, 6-2, 11-9. UIS showed fight and energy throughout, but the singles matches ultimately went the Huskies' way.

"Our women showed a lot of energy in doubles and our hard work is paying off," said head coach Henrique Leal. "Singles was very close with all six matches being competitive and three of them going to three sets. Unfortunately, they didn't go our way today. We are steadily improving, and I look forward to the direction our team is heading."

Up Next
UIS remains at home next Friday before hitting the road for a pair of matches:

• Feb. 20 (Fri) – 9 a.m. vs. Illinois State (Exhibition)
• Feb. 21 (Sat) – 2 p.m. at Drury
• Feb. 22 (Sun) – 9 a.m. vs. Southeastern Oklahoma State