The UIS women's tennis team (3-7) dropped a narrow 4-3 decision to Purdue Northwest (4-6) on Friday at the Springfield Racquet & Fitness Center.
 
The Stars won the doubles point by taking the contests at #1 and #3 doubles. Sophomore Ema Norma Bordean and junior Niamh Grogan were successful at #1 doubles, 6-2. Freshman Jane Carter and graduate student Cristina Mendoza Romero captured the win at #3 doubles, 6-2. The doubles team of freshmen Maria Garcia Gama and Alisha Deogaonkar dropped a 7-5 contest at #2 doubles.
 
In singles play, UIS picked up a quick win at #2 when Mendoza Romero won 6-1, 7-5. Purdue Northwest then captured three-set wins at #1 and #3 singles. UIS went up 3-2 with a win at #6 singles where Garcia Gama won 6-0, 6-2. Purdue Northwest won the final two matches, including a three-set win at #4 singles to take the match.
 
"I'm proud of how our women competed in the match," said head coach Henrique Leal. "We lost to this team six months ago, 5-2, with our only wins coming from three-set matches. Plus, we lost all three doubles matches. In this event, we won the doubles point with a good margin. We took two singles matches in straight sets and lost two of them in three sets. The improvement is noticeable, and I look forward to the future of our women's program."
 
The Stars return to action on Sunday, March 22 with a road trip to Kirksville to face GLVC member Truman in a non-conference match. With the two programs in different divisions, they have not played since the 2018 season when UIS captured a 7-0 victory for its third straight win in the series. The Bulldogs lead the all-time series, 4-3. The following Sunday, March 29, the women join the men in hosting Rockhurst at the Springfield Racquet & Fitness Center in another non-conference match against a GLVC West Division opponent. The Hawks captured the GLVC Championship last year in Springfield.
 
 
Purdue Northwest 4, UIS 3
Doubles
#1 - Ema Norma Bordean/Niamh Grogan (UIS) d. Elisoa Andriantefihasina/Victoria Watine (PNW), 6-2
#2 – Haizea Lopez/Monti Gay Coello (PNW) d. Maria Garcia Gama/Alisha Deogaonkar (UIS), 7-5
#3 – Jane Carter/Cristina Mendoza Romero (UIS) d. Rishita Agarwal/Lavinia Bortolaso (PNW), 6-2
 
Singles
#1 – Andriantefihasina (PNW) d. Bordean (UIS), 4-6, 6-4, 6-3
#2 – Mendoza Romero (UIS) d. Lopez (PNW), 6-1, 7-5
#3 – Watine (PNW) d. Deogaonkar (UIS), 7-6 (7-2), 6-2
#4 – Bortolaso (PNW) d. Grogan (UIS), 6-1, 7-5, 5-7
#5 – Coello (PNW) d. Carter (UIS), 6-4, 6-1
#6 – Garcia Gama (UIS) d. Agarwal (PNW), 6-0, 6-2