Lady Raiders Drop Close One to Ole Miss 4-3

OXFORD, Miss. - Middle Tennessee women's tennis (7-3) fell to No. 27 Ole Miss (8-5) 4-3 Wednesday at the Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center.

The Lady Raiders opened the match by winning the doubles point as Middle Tennessee took two of the three doubles matches. Manon Kruse and Carien Venter, ranked No. 22 in the ITA, defeated Chloe Carlotti and Virginia Tomatis 8-6 at No. 1 and Jennifer Klaschka and Laura McNamara won 8-1 over Sabrin Peppl and Emily Ladyman.

Middle Tennessee found them selves down quickly as the team entered singles play when Ole Miss took wins at number five, six and three singles. The Lady Raiders picked up a win at No. 1 singles when Kruse, ranked No. 50, easily handled No. 75 Carlotti 6-2, 6-2 for her 10th consecutive win this spring.

Down 3-2, the Lady Raiders looked to rally as Klaschka and McNamara both took the first set at No. 2 and No. 4 singles. The Ole Miss players, however, rallied back to take the next to sets and Peppl defeated McNamara for the deciding point 7-6, 4-6, 2-6. Klaschka, however came back to defeat Karem Harboe 7-5, 2-6, 7-6(6).

The Lady Raiders return home to host Louisville on Saturday at the Buck Bouldin Tennis Center. Match time is set for 1 p.m.

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