SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State women's tennis came up short against Murray State Thursday afternoon here, 6-1.

"It was another hard-fought match with a strong Missouri Valley Conference opponent," head coach Ellie Burger said. "We just need to convert the big opportunities within our matches. We are going to make some adjustments and be ready to go against Valparaiso and UIC."

The Racers (9-8, 3-2 MVC) pounced on the Bears (6-14, 1-5 MVC) in the doubles point with victories in Nos. 2-3. Murray State's Paola Campigotto and Marit Kreugel (No. 3) defeated Silva Avakian and Tiera Jarmond, 6-1, and MurSt's Sarah Bureau and Annika Pschorr (No. 2) took out Mary Houston and Juliette Robinson, 6-2, to give the Racers an early 1-0 advantage. After the point was secured, the Bears grabbed a win in flight one after the duo of Diana Cabrera and Alyson Piskulic downed Murray State's Emma Honore and Natalie Slezakova, 6-3, in the final doubles match.

In singles, MoState tied up the dual at one apiece thanks to Piskulic's first-set performance in flight five. After taking the opener, 6-4, the senior forced Murray State's Jordi Font Montero to concede the match and gave the Bears some life headed into the remaining five matches.

However, the Racers answered the call with victories in all remaining matches. Murray State's Honore (No. 2) defeated Jarmond, 6-1, 6-4, before the Racers' Slezakova (No. 4) took out Robinson, 6-2, 6-3, to clinch the match for the visiting squad. Then, Murray State's Campigotto downed Avakian, 6-3, 6-2, in flight six.

The two remaining singles matches proved to be the battles of the day, as it took a 10-point tiebreaker in place of a third set to take out Cabrera and Houston. Murray State's Bureau won over Cabrera, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (10-1) at No. 1, before the Racers' Pschorr survived Houston, 6-7 (4-7), 6-2, 7-6 (10-8) at No. 3.

Up next, Missouri State concludes Missouri Valley Conference play with road matchups at Valparaiso (April 15) and UIC (April 16). Afterwards, the Bears will compete in the MVC Team Championships, April 21-23 in Normal, Ill.

Results:
Doubles
1 – Diana Cabrera/Alyson Piskulic (MOST) def. Emma Honore/Natalie Slezakova (MUR) 6-3
2 – Sarah Bureau/Annika Pschorr (MUR) def. Mary Houston/Juliette Robinson (MOST) 6-2
3 – Paola Campigotto/Marit Kreugel (MUR) def. Silva Avakian/Tiera Jarmond (MOST) 6-1
Order of finish – 3,2,1

Singles
1 – Sarah Bureau (MUR) def. Diana Cabrera (MOST) 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (10-1)
2 – Emma Honore (MUR) def. Tiera Jarmond (MOST) 6-1, 6-4
3 – Annika Pschorr (MUR) def. Mary Houston (MOST) 6-7 (4-7), 6-2, 7-6 (10-8)
4 – Natalie Slezakova (MUR) def. Juliette Robinson (MOST) 6-2, 6-3
5 – Alyson Piskulic (MOST) def. Jordi Font Montero (MUR), 6-4, withdrew
6 – Paola Campigotto (MUR) def. Silva Avakian (MOST) 6-3, 6-2
Order of finish – 5,2,4,6,1,3