CLEVELAND, Tenn. – The Lee University Women's Tennis team was defeated 5-2 by No. 22 Mississippi College Sunday afternoon at the DeVos Tennis Center. The contest was the final home match for the Lady Flames this season.

The Lady Flames (9-5, 4-5 GSC) won two of the three doubles matches to grab an early 1-0 lead. Ashleigh Simes and Maria Fernanda Duarte, ranked No. 39, took down No. 26 Elyangelica Alas and Fernanda Cota 6-3 at No. 1 doubles. Gabrielle Geolier and Ana Rodriguez beat Maria Penalver Aguilo and Kanna Kobayakawa 7-6 with a 7-1 tiebreaker at the second position to leave the No. 3 doubles match to decide the doubles point. Elizaveta Gnilozubova and Mirjana Ragastovac outlasted Emma Roberts and Maria Rodriguez 7-4 in the tiebreaker to win the match 7-6.

Simes, ranked No. 53 in singles, started off singles with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Alas at the No. 1 position.

The Lady Choctaws (13-6, 7-2 GSC) ended the Lee run with a 6-0, 6-2 win by Cota against Kobayakawa. Penalver Aguilo won her opening set 6-4, but Roberts posted scores of 6-1 and 6-3 in the next two sets to win at No. 2 singles and even the team score at 2-2.

MC rode the momentum to claim the next three singles matches and clinch the team win.

The Lady Flames are scheduled to complete the regular season next Sunday at Valdosta State University. The GSC contest is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.
 

Coach Patric Hynes' Thoughts:
"We are a really consistent team in doubles, we had to really fight for that point today. I absolutely love what our ladies are doing this year with doubles."

"Ash faced a few difficult moments in the first set, she did really well to maintain her composure."

"We will rest up and get ready for our last GSC match at Valdosta State."