SPRINGFIELD – The Missouri State women's tennis team dropped its first match of the weekend here Friday night in 6-1, a loss at the hands of Southeast Missouri State (1-2). 

The Bears and the Redhawks started doubles play even-keeled, trading sets in all three positions. Playing in the third position, Sandra Lukacova and Juliette Robinson dropped a hard-fought, 6-3, match to SEMO's Teona Velkoska and Daniela Hlacikova. Playing in doubles No. 1, Tiera Jarmond and Mary Houston took Ksenia Shikanova/Lera Valeeva to the brink, ending the match unfinished as the Redbirds ultimately took the doubles point. 

"Tonight, we played an impressive team in SEMO," said head coach Randall Knox. "They came out in doubles and established why they are such a tough team. After losing the doubles point, we came out very focused and showed a great fight, winning the first set in three of the six singles matches." 

Playing in the sixth position for the Bears in singles, Kate Miley earned a win for Missouri State in a 7-5, 7-6(2) defeat of Teona Velkoska to tally her first victory of the season. MSU took several other Redhawks down to the wire, as both Houston and Robinson lost in the third set. 

"We came up short in the matches and ultimately fell, but we showed a lot of improvement from this week's practice, and we will keep improving as we move toward our next match this Sunday," continued Knox. 

Missouri State (0-3) continues its weekend as they host Arkansas State (0-3) on Sunday at 6 p.m. The match will be held indoors at the Cooper Tennis Complex.   

#BearsUnite 

Singles: 

(1) Romana Tarajova (SEMO) def. Tiera Jarmond (MSU) 6-1, 6-1 

(2) Daniela Hlacikova (SEMO) def. Mary Houston (MSU) 4-6, 6-3, 10-8 

(3) Myroslava Zelenchuk (SEMO) def. Alyson Piskulic (MSU) 6-2, 6-1 

(4) Ksenia Shikanova (SEMO) def. Juliette Robinson (MSU) 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 

(5) Vivian Lai(SEMO) def. Sandra Lukacova (MSU) 7-5, 6-3 

(6) Kate Miley (MSU) def. Teona Velkoska (SEMO) 7-5, 7-6(2) 

Doubles: 

(1) Ksenia Shikanova/Lera Valeeva (SEMO) vs. Tiera Jarmond/Mary Houston (MSU) 5-3, unfinished 

(2) Romana Tarajova/Myroslava Zelenchuk (SEMO) def. Mara Presot/Alyson Piskulic (MSU) 6-1 

(3) Teona Velkoska/Daniela Hlacikova(SEMO) def. Juliette Robinson/Sandra Lukacova (MSU) 6-3