SPRINGFIELD – A fifth-flight singles tiebreaker favored Southeast Missouri State as the Missouri State tennis team came up short, 4-3, in a see-saw Friday night contest at Cooper Tennis Complex.
 
The Bears nabbed the early lead stemming from a strong doubles performance in the Nos. 2 and 3 spots. Duo Alyson Piskulic and Anna Alons served the visiting Redhawks a 6-2 loss while No. 3 Claire Martin and Mara Presot broke the doubles deadlock, 6-4, handing MSU the point.
 
SEMO's Kseniya Zonova leveled the field with a 6-1, 6-1 result over Alye Darter in the first flight, but a quick 6-3, 6-2 decision from No. 3 Ellie Burger bounced the Bears back in front.  
 
The visiting club strung together a pair of singles victories in Nos. 4 and 2 courts to capture a brief lead before No. 6 Claire Martin fended off a SEMO match point, 6-2, 6-1, to tie it three-all.
 
Piskulic and SEMO's Velkoska battled in the fifth flight, stretching the contest to three sets and forcing a winner-take-all tiebreaker. Velkoska broke the lock and claimed the final point, sealing a tight win for the Redhawks over the Bears.
 
MSU remains at home and hosts Kansas City at Cooper Tennis Complex Saturday, March 8 at 10 a.m.
 
For more information on the Missouri State women's tennis team go to www.missouristatebears.com or twitter (@msubearstennis).
 
 
Doubles Results:
 
Kseniya Zonova/Romana Tarajova (SEMO) def. Ellie Burger/Alye Darter (MSU) 6-3
Alyson Piskulic/Anna Alons (MSU) def. Vivian Lai/Teona Velkoska (SEMO), 6-2
Claire Martin/Mara Presot (MSU) def. Lera Valeeva/Manuela Barriga (SEMO) 6-4
 
Singles Results:
 
Kseniya Zonova (SEMO) def. Alye Darter (MSU), 6-1, 6-1
Romana Tarajova (SEMO) def. Anna Alons (MSU), 6-3, 6-4
Ellie Burger (MSU) def. Lera Valeeva (SEMO), 6-3, 6-2
Vivian Lai (SEMO) def. Taylor Shaw (MSU), 6-1, 6-1
Teona Velkoska (SEMO) def. Alyson Piskulic (MSU), 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(4)
Claire Martin (MSU) def. Manuela Barriga (SEMO), 6-2, 6-1