CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. ? Austin Peay State University women's tennis team opened Ohio Valley Conference play with back-to-back 6-1 losses, Wednesday and Thursday to Tennessee Martin and Jacksonville State, respectively.

Junior Mariana Pagan led Austin Peay with an undefeated mark at No. 1 singles. Pagan earned a decisive victory (6-1, 6-0), Wednesday, over UTM's Martie Wahl. It was the Lady Govs only win of the match. Sophomore Alex Pyle came up just short, losing in a tiebreaker at No. 6 singles to Julianne McMeen. Junior Michelle Liew saw her winning streak end at three matches, falling (6-2, 6-3) at No. 2 singles to Sara Leavy.

Against Jacksonville State, Pagan picked up another huge win, this time over the reigning OVC Player of the Year Viviane Marani. The first set was a tight 7-5, but Pagan pulled away for the 6-0 win in the second set. Liew battled at No. 2 singles, but could not recover after losing the opening set. It was the second straight loss for Liew, but just her second of the season.

On the doubles side, the Lady Govs continued to struggle having not won a doubles point this season. In fact, the last Lady Govs doubles win came against Western Kentucky, Feb. 14. They have now been shut out on the doubles side for the third consecutive match.


UT Martin 6, Lady Govs 1
 Singles competition
1. PAGAN, Mariana (APSUW) def. WAHL, Martie (UTMW) 6-1, 6-0
2. LEAVY, Sara (UTMW) def. LIEW, Michelle (APSUW) 6-2, 6-3
3. DE BRITO, Belisa (UTMW) def. NAKAMURA, Yuki (APSUW) 6-2, 6-2
4. TILEY, Jodie (UTMW) def. GEORGAKOPOULOS, Demi (APSUW) 6-2, 6-4
5. KOORNHOF, Ernestine (UTMW) def. HAYS, Brittany (APSUW) 6-0, 6-0
6. McMEEN, Julianne (UTMW) def. PYLE, Alexandria (APSUW) 7-5, 4-6, 10-5

 Doubles competition
1. WAHL, Martie/DE BRITO, Belisa (UTMW) def. PAGAN, Mariana/NAKAMURA, Yuki (APSUW) 8-4
2. LEAVY, Sara/TILEY, Jodie (UTMW) def. LIEW, Michelle/GEORGAKOPOULOS, Demi (APSUW) 8-4
3. LeMERLE, Alycia/KOORNHOF, Ernestine (UTMW) def. PYLE, Alexandria/HAYS, Brittany (APSUW) 8-0


Jacksonville State 6, Lady Govs 1
 Singles competition
1. PAGAN, Mariana (APSUW) def. MARANI, Viviane (JSUW) 7-5, 6-0
2. DESSBESELL, Martina (JSUW) def. LIEW, Michelle (APSUW) 3-6, 6-4, 10-6
3. WENZEL, Rafaila (JSUW) def. NAKAMURA, Yuki (APSUW) 6-0, 6-1
4. RENESTO, Julianna (JSUW) def. GEORGAKOPOULOS, Demi (APSUW) 7-5, 6-3
5. LOPES, Eloah (JSUW) def. HAYS, Brittany (APSUW) 6-1, 6-1
6. FULLER, Kristen (JSUW) def. PYLE, Alexandria (APSUW) 6-2, 6-0

 Doubles competition
1. MARANI, Viviane/WENZEL, Rafaila (JSUW) def. PAGAN, Mariana/NAKAMURA, Yuki (APSUW) 9-8
2. DESSBESELL, Martina/LOPES, Eloah (JSUW) def. LIEW, Michelle/GEORGAKOPOULOS, Demi (APSUW) 8-4
3. LUNDY, Laura/FERRIS, Kimberly (JSUW) def. HAYS, Brittany/PYLE, Alexandria (APSUW) 8-5

- AP -