Box Score HARROGATE, Tenn. – The Lincoln Memorial University women's tennis program dropped a midweek match to SAC foe Lenoir-Rhyne, 5-2, on Wednesday afternoon at the Indoor Tennis Complex.
 
The No. 20 Lady Railsplitters jumped out to a fast 2-0 lead by winning the doubles point and then seeing senior Julia Valls take a 6-2 6-2 win over Alicia Wahlberg. Meanwhile, LMU won the first sets at #1 and #5 singles behind freshmen Laura Jipescu and Kushi Khandoji, respectively, before LRU grided back to even the matches at a set apiece. 
 
The Lady Bears then rolled in the third sets, earning some much-needed momentum heading into the final three matches, where LMU could not find a point. 
 
Valentina Ascarrunz dropped a very close 6-2, 0-6, 4-6 match to Evgenia Pugina at No. 2 singles which was LMU's best chance to score again, and the Lady Bears finished the last two matches off in two sets only dropping 4 games in each match. 
 
"We had them against the wall, but give Lenoir-Rhyne credit because they did what they had to get back into the match," said head coach Mark Walters, who saw his team drop a second straight match at home.
 
"We had plenty of opportunity to drive the nail in them, but (LRU) played like a good team does when they are challenged and bounced back with their claws out."
 
LMU falls to 12-3 with the loss and now heads to Mars Hill on Saturday for a 1pm conference match.