CONWAY, Ark. – The Missouri State women's tennis team opened up the 2016 fall season with two singles and one doubles victory at day one of the UCA Fall Invite Friday, Sept. 23.

Freshman Alye Darter posted a strong outing in her first collegiate appearance, winning the flight three match in two sets. Darter took the first set against freshman Caitlin McCullough of Northeastern State University, 6-3. Darter would go on to win the second set 6-3 in her first win as a Bear.

Missouri State returner Abbey Belote won her first match of the 2016 season in three sets against Alzbeta Gombarova of Northeastern State. Belote, a Springfield native, won the first set 6-4 before dropping the second set to Gombarova, 4-6. Belote would come back to win the third set in an exciting 10-8 victory to secure the match.

Fati Khamissi fell in a close match against Central Arkansas's Amiru Shimoguchi in flight one of singles play. The junior from Morocco dropped the first set 6-3 but battled back to take the second set 6-3 and force a third set. Khamissi and Shimoguchi went back and forth throughout the set but ultimately dropped the last set 10-8.

In doubles play, Khamissi teamed up with senior Ekaterina Donestkova, winning their first doubles match of the 2016 fall season. The Bear duo handled the match easily, winning 6-2 and advancing to the semi-final round of the invite.

In the semi-final round, Khamissi and Donetskova faced UCA's QiLi Ma and Hai Ning, falling to the Sugar Bears in a hard-fought, 6-3 match.

The Bears return for day two of the UCA Fall Invite tomorrow at 9 a.m. when the squad will compete in six singles matches followed by two doubles matches. For more information on the Missouri State women's tennis team go to www.missouristatebears.com or twitter (msubearstennis).