SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State women's tennis came out strong and took the doubles point to open today's dual, however it couldn't sustain the momentum in a 4-1 loss to Cowley College here Saturday afternoon.

MSU (5-8) won matches in No. 1 and No. 3 doubles. In flight one, the tandem of Diana Cabrera and Alyson Piskulic took out Cowley's Isid Hernandez and Alexandra Melnikova, 6-2. Then, Silva Avakian and Mary Houston clinched the point for the Bears with a 6-3 victory over the Tigers' Mariia Koroleva and Camila Neyra at the No. 3 slot. As a result, MoState took a 1-0 advantage into singles play.

After not winning a match in doubles play, Cowley responded with four-straight wins to clinch the dual. Starting in No. 1 singles, the Tigers' Melnikova downed Diana Cabrera, 6-3, 6-2, to even the dual at one apiece. Next, Cowley's Arina Babenko took down Houston, 6-2, 6-4, in the No. 3 position, while the Tigers' Koroleva defeated Piskulic, 7-5, 6-2, in flight six.

The clinching match came in No. 6 singles when Cowley's Neyra emerged victorious over Avakian, 6-3, 7-5. The loss meant a home-weekend split for MSU as the Bears defeated Missouri Western State, 5-1, in yesterday's dual.

Missouri State looks ahead to Missouri Valley Conference play which begins next Saturday at 9 a.m. against Bradley. The dual will take place at Cooper Tennis Complex in Springfield, and admission is free.

Results:
Doubles
1– Diana Cabrera/Alyson Piskulic (MOST) def. Isid Hernandez/Alexandra Melnikova (CC) 6-2
2 – Sandra Lukacova/Juliette Robinson (MOST) vs. Arina Babenko/Ntokozo Zungu (CC) 4-5 uf
3 – Silva Avakian/Mary Houston (MOST) def. Mariia Koroleva/Camila Neyra (CC) 6-3
Order of finish – 1,3

Singles
1 – Alexandra Melnikova (CC) def. Diana Cabrera (MOST) 6-3, 6-2
2 – Arina Babenko (CC) def. Mary Houston (MOST) 6-2, 6-4
3 – Juliette Robinson (MOST) vs. Ntokozo Zungu (CC) 6-2 5-4 uf
4 – Sandra Lukacova (MOST) vs. Isid Hernandez (CC) 6-4, 2-5 uf
5 – Mariia Koroleva (CC) def. Alyson Piskulic (MOST) 7-5, 6-2
6 – Camila Neyra (CC) def. Silva Avakian (MOST) 6-3, 7-5
Order of finish – 1,2,5,6