LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The Lee University Women's Tennis team lost a 6-1 Gulf South Conference contest to No. 6 West Alabama Friday afternoon at the Vaughan Tennis Complex. The Lady Flames have lost their last three contests and are now 9-4 overall and 4-4 within the GSC, while West Alabama remain unbeaten in the GSC at 8-0 and are 12-8 overall.

Elizaveta Gnilozubova and Mirjana Ragastovac began doubles competition with a 6-2 win over Lolita Hukasian and Emiri Takanishi at the third position. In a battle of ranked doubles teams, UWA's 10^th-ranked Shaira Rivera and Hardija Vidnere held off No. 39 Maria Fernanda Duarte and Ashleigh Simes 6-4. Khim Iglupas and Heden Ly outlasted Maria Penalver Aguilo and Kanna Kobayakawa 7-5 in a tiebreaker to win at No. 2 doubles 7-6 and give UWA the doubles point.

The Tigers won the first three singles contests to clinch the team win. No. 3 Iglupas beat No. 53 Simes 6-3, 6-2; and Ly defeated Kobayakawa 6-4 and 6-3. Takanishi needed a 9-7 tiebreaker in the second set to win at No. 5 singles against Fernanda Duarte.

Penalver Aguilo ended the home team's push for a shutout with a win over Rivera at No. 2 singles. Penalver Aguilo won the first set with an 8-6 tiebreaker but lost the second set 7-5. She was leading 5-0 in the third set when Rivera retired.

Gnilozubova fell to Valentina Mutilba in a highly competitive three-set match. Vidnere beat Hayden Smith 7-5, 6-0 to provide the final team score.

The Lady Flames return home on Sunday to take on Mississippi College. The GSC contest is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start.
 
Coach Patric Hynes' Thoughts:
"That's the best team in the league and we competed well. We've got another good battle coming up on Sunday that we need to get ready for."