Box Score SPRINGFIELD – The Missouri State women's tennis team fell 4-3 in a tough match to UMKC on Saturday, March 10, at Cooper Tennis Complex.

Missouri State, 4-5 on the season, took a quick lead in doubles play after senior Anelisse Torrico Moreno and junior Phoebe Boeschen picked up a 6-2 win at the No. 2 match. Reining Missouri Valley Conference Doubles Team of the Week sophomore Alye Darter and freshman Ellie Burger, in the top doubles match, battled to a 7-6(4) victory over UMKC's Melinda Johnson and Yana Grechkina.

The Bears battled in singles play but were unable to break past UMKC. MSU senior Abbey Belote tallied the Bears' first singles win with a 6-2, 6-1 victory at No. 6 singles over UMKC's Brylin Staats to go up 2-0 in the match.

After trading team points, junior Fati Khamissi's win (2-6, 6-0, 6-4) at the No. 4 match over Thanushree Vale tied the match. MSU's Burger picked up the first set 6-7(1) in her No. 5 singles match, but UMKC's Grace Ball came back to take the next two sets 6-4, 6-4 and captured the win for the Roos.

Missouri State will host South Dakota at 12 p.m. on Friday, March 16 at the Cooper Tennis Complex before traveling to Manhattan, Kansas, to take on Kansas State on Sunday, March 18, with first serve set for 4 p.m.

For all of the latest information on the Missouri State women's tennis team, visit MissouriStateBears.com or follow @MSUBearsTennis on Twitter and Instagram.  

Doubles Results
No. 1 – Alye Darter/Ellie Burger (MSU) def. Melinda Johnson/Yana Grechkina (UMKC) 7-6(4)
No. 2 – Anelisse Torrico Moreno/Phoebe Boeschen (MSU) def. Aliona Ladutska/Grace Ball (UMKC) 6-2
No. 3 – Katie Fries/Ioanna Lathouri (UMKC) def. Fati Khamissi/Alexia Meyer (MSU) 7-5
 
Singles Results
No. 1 – Aliona Ladutska (UMKC) def. Alye Darter (MSU) 7-6(4), 6-0
No. 2 – Katie Fries (UMKC) def. Anelisse Torrico Moreno (MSU) 6-0, 6-4
No. 3 – Melinda Johnson (UMKC) def. Phoebe Boeschen (MSU) 7-5, 6-1
No. 4 – Fati Khamissi (MSU) def. Thanushree Vale (UMKC) 2-6, 6-0, 6-4
No. 5 – Grace Ball (UMKC) def. Ellie Burger (MSU) 6-7(1), 6-4, 6-4
No. 6 – Abbey Belote (MSU) def. Brylin Staats (UMKC) 6-2, 6-1
 
Order of Finish: Doubles – 2, 3, 1 Singles – 6, 1, 3, 2, 4, 5