BELMONT EDGES SOUTHEAST

NASHVILLE, Mo. -- The Southeast Missouri State women's tennis team dropped a close match to the Belmont Lady Bruins, 4-3, on Thursday.

The Otahkians, up 3-2, saw Belmont pull even with a victory in the final doubles contest.

In singles play, Southeast's Adrienne Bland rallied for a gutsy second-set win 7-6 (7-5) after dropping the first set 1-6, but ultimately lost a heartbreaker to Belmont's Starr Steffner in a super-tiebreaker (10-4). Steffner's win provided the final margin of victory for the Lady Bruins.

The Otahkians (5-10) got another fine performance from senior Mel Thomas, back from an early season injury, as she won the No. 1 singles and combined with Bland to take the No. 1 doubles contest.

Singles

No. 1 - Mel Thomas (SEMO) def. Alba Garcia (BU) 4-6, 6-3, (10-7 super-tiebreaker).

No. 2 - Starr Steffner (BU) def. Adrienne Bland (SEMO) 6-1, 6-7 (7-5), (10-4 super-tiebreaker).

No. 3 - Kathleen Davis (SEMO) def. Katie Kelsey (BU) 63, 6-1.

No. 4 - Lides Valera (BU) def. Jennifer Kirk (SEMO) 6-0, 6-1.

No. 5 - Carrie Osborne (BU) def. Katie Barry (SEMO) 6-2, 6-2.

No. 6 - Kay Ehlke (SEMO) def. Kristina Mukhsiyan (BU) 6-0, 6-2.

Doubles

No. 1 - Thomas/Bland (SEMO) def. Steffner/Garcia (BU) 8-4.

No. 2 - OsborneValera (BU) def. Davis/Kirk (SEMO) 8-2.

No. 3 - Kelsey/Mukhsiyan (BU) def. Barry/Jennifer Campbell (SEMO) 8-3.