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ORLANDO, Flo.- The Montana State University Billings women's tennis team dropped two matches Saturday during the concluding day of completion from Florida.  They fell in a tough fought match 4-5 to St. Cloud State University and then were defeated 0-9 by Palm Beach Atlantic University. 

MSUB 4 vs. SCSU 5   

The Yellowjackets came out of doubles up 2-1 after wins by the number one team of Madeline Loomis and Morgan Opp 9-8 (7-2 in the tie breaker) and the number two team of Mary Conwell and Emily Paffhausen 8-5.  The Yellowjacket's number three team of Hannah Shephard and Marissa O'Connell fell 4-8 to SCSU.

Conwell would win her singles match in straight sets 6-4, 6-2 over El O'Brien for SCSU.  Paffhausen claimed a third set tie breaker win over Jamie Voelker 6-1, 3-6, 1-0 (10-7). 

But the lady Jackets could not win one more match as Opp (playing number one) fell 3-6, 1-6; Loomis (at number two) was defeated 1-6, 4-6; Shephard (playing at number three) lost 1-6, 4-6; and O'Connell (playing in the number six spot) was also defeated 3-6, 3-6 and SCSU would go onto escape with the 5-4 victory.

"The women have come a long way," head coach Lew Kosich said.  "We are a young team with one senior and we playeed a tough team that is typically a post season team.  We had good wins at one and two doubles along with four and five singles.  We are improving steadily and I am very proud of the ladies." 

Singles competition
1. Kotschevar, Katie (SCSU) def. Morgan Opp (MSUBW) 6-3, 6-4
2. Siegfried, Maribelle (SCSU) def. Madeline Loomis (MSUBW) 6-2, 6-4
3. Roque Diversi, M. (SCSU) def. Hannah Shephard (MSUBW) 6-1, 6-3
4. Mary Conwell (MSUBW) def. O'Brien, El (SCSU) 6-4, 6-2
5. Emily Paffhausen (MSUBW) def. Voelker, Jamie (SCSU) 6-1, 2-6, 1-0 (10-7)
6. Pung, Gabbie (SCSU) def. Marissa O'Connell (MSUBW) 6-3, 6-3

Doubles competition
1. Morgan Opp/Madeline Loomis (MSUBW) def. Kotschevar, Katie/Siegfried, Maribelle (SCSU) 9-8
2. Mary Conwell/Emily Paffhausen (MSUBW) def. Zwiener, Rachael/Roque Diversi, M. (SCSU) 8-5
3. Marlton, Tori/Voelker, Jamie (SCSU) def. Hannah Shephard/Marissa O'Connell (MSUBW) 8-4


MSUB 0 PBAU 9

Palm Beach Atlantic, ranked number 38 nationally in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Division II poll, made quick work of the Lady Jackets.  They swept through doubles play 8-0 at number one and number three doubles.  The number two team of Conwell and Paffhausen put up the most fight but fell 4-8. 

The Sailfish continued their match dominance in singles cursing to five straight set victories.  Shephard in the third position lost in a third set tiebreaker 4-6, 6-2, 1-0 (10-8). 

The Yellowjackets fall to 0-6 on the year and will next play at home to open up Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play on April fourth and fifth.   


Singles competition
1. Veena Vasquez (PBAW) def. Morgan Opp (MSUB) 6-0, 6-0
2. Jessica Wharton (PBAW) def.  Madeline Loomis (MSUB) 4-6, 6-3, 10-7
3. Yoanna Peshev (PBAW) def. Hannah Shephard (MSUB) 6-3, 6-0
4. Vilja Vahatalo (PBAW) def. Mary Conwell (MSUB) 6-0, 6-2
5. Maja Jovic (PBAW) def. Emily Puffhausen (MSUB) 6-0, 6-1
6. Liddy Robinson (PBAW) def. Marissa O'Connell (MSUB) 6-2, 6-3

Doubles competition
1. Veena Vasquez/Yoanna Peshev (PBAW) def. Opp/Shephard (MSUB) 8-0
2. Jessica Wharton/Maja Jovic (PBAW) def. Conwell/Puffhausen (MSUB) 8-4
3. Vilja Vahatalo/Maria Jimenez (PBAW) def. Loomis/O'Connell (MSUB) 8-0