Written by Chris Pendleton

WINCHESTER, Va.—The Southern Virginia University women's tennis team lost a close match at Shenandoah University on Tuesday falling 4-5 to the Hornets.

Southern Virginia (8-5) split singles play with Shenandoah (8-7), but the Knights had previously dropped two of three doubles matches to the Hornets resulting in a one-point loss.

Ivy Kuroki (Hershey, Neb.) and Rebekah Reid (Woodland Hills, Utah) scored Southern Virginia's only doubles point as the duo improved their team-best doubles record to 9-3 on the season with an 8-4 win at Shenandoah. 

Reid and Kuroki each went on to win their singles matches in straight sets at the No. 2 and No. 4 spots respectively.

Senior Bethany Johnson (Alpine, Utah) was the only other Knight to record a singles victory winning 6-0, 6-1 at the No. 3 slot, as Shenandoah took the first, fifth and sixth seeded matches from Southern Virginia.

After moving play to Shenandoah's indoor courts on account of rain, the match was tied 4-4 with only the No. 6 singles match between Shelly Rowberry (Dacula, Ga.) and Shenandoah's Ilana Rozin undecided.

After dropping the opening set 3-6, Rowberry prevailed in a second-set tiebreaker 7-6 (8-6) to force a third and deciding set, which she eventually lost 2-6.

Southern Virginia's top-seeeded player Rachel Reid (Woodland Hills, Utah) also lost in a three-set match 6-4, 3-6, 1-6.

"Singles play was really tough fought and we came out with a split," said fourth-year head coach Deidra Dryden. "But losing two of three in doubles really cost us today."

Women's tennis has one day off before traveling to Ferrum College (3-13) on Wednesday, Apr. 11 for a match with the Panthers at 4 p.m. EST.