WASHINGTON, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson College women's tennis team (8-5) dropped a 4-3 match to the visiting West Liberty Hilltoppers (1-0).
The Hilltoppers picked up the first team point of the night, taking the doubles point, 1-0. W&J's
Keira Ross (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) and
Bella Graham (Altoona, Pa./Altoona Area) picked up a 6-0 win at No. 3 doubles. The Presidents dropped two competitive matches at No. 1 and 2 doubles by scores of 6-4 and 7-5, respectively.
Both team split in individual play, each winning three matches as West Liberty edged W&J, 4-3. The Presidents lost the first three singles spots.
Claire Loomis (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair) brought her match to a third set tiebreaker, but ultimately fell by a score of 6-3, 1-6, 6-4. Ross continued her strong freshman season, winning her No. 4 singles match 7-5, 6-2.
Austyn Paugh (Jane Lew, W.Va./Notre Dame) bested her opponent at No. 5 singles by a score of 6-0, 6-3.
Mackenzie Gumto (Renfrew, Pa./Knoch) rounded out the individual victories for W&J with a 2-6, 6-2, 1-0 (14-12) win at No. 6 singles.
The Presidents return to Presidents' Athletic Conference play on Thursday (Oct. 15) to face their final conference opponent of the season prior to the PAC Tournament. W&J's match against Thiel is scheduled for a 4:30 p.m. start.
