The Lee University women's tennis team opened Gulf South Conference action with a 6-1 loss to No. 7 West Florida Saturday afternoon at the DeVos Tennis Center.

The Lady Flames (2-1, 0-1 GSC) claimed two of the three doubles matches to take an early 1-0 lead. Carley Sickinger and Sierra Donaldson beat Manon Meulenberg and Karolina Silwanowicz 6-3 at No. 3 doubles. Micaela Belen Maiz and Larissa Wieser recorded the same score at No. 2 doubles to beat Irene Recuenco and Samantha Echevarria and secure the team point. Berta Bonardi and Sara Yigin outlasted Matina Ujdur and Lisa Kirr 7-6 (7-3) to avoid the sweep.

"Our start was really good at all three spots in doubles," said Lee head coach Patric Hynes.

Recuenco, ranked No. 6, defeated Kirr 6-3 and 6-1 to even the team score. West Florida (2-0, 2-0 GSC) gained the lead when Bonardi, ranked No. 1, beat Belen Maiz 6-1, 6-3.

Silwanowicz added to the UWF lead with a three-set win over Sickinger. Sickinger won the first set 6-3 before the 23^rd-ranked Silwanowicz won the next two sets 6-3 and 6-1. Yigin won both sets by 6-2 margins against Ujdur to clinch the team win.

Raissa Wagner beat Hayden Smith 6-3, 6-3 at the sixth position. Echevarria supplied the final team score with a three-set win over Donaldson.

"West Florida were a better team in singles, but I think we can take heart in how we competed," added Hynes. "This group is definitely going to keep improving as the season progresses. I'm excited to get back to it after some rest."

The Lady Flames are scheduled to play Carson-Newman University on Wednesday, February 24. The non-conference match is set for a 2 p.m. start.