Ashland University's women's tennis team was narrowly defeated at home on Saturday (Oct. 19) in a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference matchup with Ferris State.
The Bulldogs (6-2 overall, 6-2 GLIAC) topped Ashland (8-7 overall, 3-5 GLIAC) 4-3, in a contest that came down to the final set of the final match.
"The girls fought really hard today and unfortunately we fell a little short," said Ashland head coach Lexi Bolesky. "These close competitive matches remind us that we always have an opportunity to win. We look forward to stepping up and being better in our last regular-season match of the fall tomorrow."
Ferris State won two-of-three doubles matches to earn one-point heading into singles, but one pair of Eagles earned a win in doubles play. The senior tandem of Allison Brooks and Brianna Brdicka won their match at No. 2 doubles, 6-4.
In singles play, things got interesting for the Eagles. Ashland trailed 3-0 with four matches still hanging in the balance, all in the third set.
Brooks handled her business at No. 6, winning one of many back-and-forth matches on the day, 6-2, 1-6, 6-3. Sophomore Gabriella Hudec won her three-setter in come from behind fashion. After dropping the first set, 3-6, Hudec came back to storm through the next two sets, 6-2, 6-3 to win the match.
With the overall score a Bulldog 3-2 lead, just two matches were left to be decided.
Junior Anna Hart won her first set 6-3, then lost the second, 5-7. In the decisive third set, Hart won, 6-2 to tie the match's overall score at 3-3.
On the court right next to Hart, junior Camille Ringot was battling for a match win for herself, and for the Eagles. She had already won the first set, 7-5, and lost the second, 2-6. Moments after Hart clinched a win, Ringot dropped her third set, 4-6 as the Bulldogs clinched the 4-3 win.
Ashland will play next at home at the Deborah Liebert Karl Tennis Complex on Sunday (Oct. 20) at 1 p.m. vs. Grand Valley State.
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