MOORE, Okla. – The St. Edward's women's tennis team dropped a 5-4 decision to UA Fort Smith, 5-4, Saturday afternoon at the Westwood Tennis Center.
 
St. Edward's (7-9, 3-2 HC) raced out to a 2-1 lead after doubles play. SASHA KHADZHYAN and BROOKE HUGHES teamed up at the number one spot and took down UA Fort Smith's Abby White and Masa Podunavac, 8-2. Rafaela Hagele and FRANCESCA CHAHER combined to win at the number two position, 8-3, over the Lion team of Amy Belanger and Abby Thompson.
 
With a 2-1 lead heading into singles play, the Hilltoppers were without No. 1 singles and national-ranked player BROOKE HUGHES once again. Haegele won her match at the number two position over Belanger, 2-6, 6-2, 7-5. Khadzhyan took home victory at the number one spot over Abby White, 6-2, 6-2. But that's all the Hilltoppers could muster as the Lions won the other four matches to take home a narrow, 5-4 victory.
 
St. Edward's will be back in action Saturday when they host Heartland Conference rival St. Mary's. First-serve is set for 2 p.m. at the Strohmeyer Varsity Courts. Check the Hilltopper Athletic Website for results.
 
UA Fort Smith vs St. Edward's
Apr 05, 2014 at Moore, Okla.
(Westwood Tennis Center)
 #6 UA Fort Smith 5, #7 St. Edward's 4
Singles competition
1. SASHA KHADZHYAN (SEUWT) def. Abby White (UAFSWT) 6-2, 6-2
2. RAFAELA HAEGELE (SEUWT) def. Amy Belanger (UAFSWT) 2-6, 6-2, 7-5
3. Masa Podunavac (UAFSWT) def. FRANCESCA CHAHER (SEUWT) 7-6, 6-3
4. Madison Carr (UAFSWT) def. SUMMER BIGGS (SEUWT) 7-5, 6-3
5. Taylor Price (UAFSWT) def. BREANNE HESSELTINE (SEUWT) 6-2, 6-3
6. Abby Thompson (UAFSWT) def. TATIANA MARCHIZANO (SEUWT) 6-0, 6-0
 Doubles competition
1. BROOKE HUGHES/SASHA KHADZHYAN (SEUWT) def. Abby White/Masa Podunavac (UAFSWT) 8-2
2. FRANCESCA CHAHER/RAFAELA HAEGELE (SEUWT) def. Amy Belanger/Abby Thompson (UAFSWT) 8-3
3. Whitney Hobson/Madison Carr (UAFSWT) def. SUMMER BIGGS/BREANNE HESSELTINE (SEUWT) 8-1
Match Notes:
UA Fort Smith 8-4; National ranking #6
St. Edward's 7-9; National ranking #7