ATLANTA - Although the final score showed Austin Peay State University women's tennis team losing 4-0 to 13th-ranked Georgia Tech, Friday afternoon, in NCAA Women's Tennis Championship first-round action, the Lady Govs found much solace in defeat.

It was the Lady Govs first loss in 13 matches since falling to Jacksonville State, March 6. Austin Peay lost the doubles point to Georgia Tech, along with Nos. 4, 5 and 6 singles for the match.

In the program's first-ever NCAA championship appearance, the Lady Govs achieved solace in the fact that their singles play was not as far off as the numbers suggested. Georgia Tech boasts the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's No. 1 player in Irina Falconi and a team that knocked off three top-10 teams in order to host the regional.

"We played solid," head coach Malik Tabet said. "We were comfortable and didn't seem nervous at all. Georgia Tech is a really good team and I'm proud of the way we came after them and played hard. We kept our composure and I'm very happy by the show of our players."

Although Falconi won the first set against sophomore Vanja Tomic, the Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year made quick adjustments and led 4-2 in the second set when play ended. Senior Mariana Pagan dropped the opener at No. 3 singles to Sasha Krupina, but also was ahead 4-1 in the second set.

The Lady Govs did not come out strong against the Yellow Jackets in the doubles competition. Sophomore Demi Georgakopoulos and senior Michelle Liew were the first to fall, at No.3, while freshman Carolin Weikard and senior Yuki Nakamura followed with an 8-3 loss at No. 2.

A short intermission was not enough to reset the Lady Govs, as they came out to drop the first set in all six singles matches. While Tomic and Pagan were able to make adjustments for the second set, the rest of the team was not able to pull it off. The Yellow Jackets ran away with straight-set wins in the bottom three matches.

The unfinished matches means that Tomic ends the season with a 17-match win streak intact, while Weikard will carry a 13-match streak as well into next season.

"It's a good memory to end your career for the seniors and a good experience for the returning players to build on next season," Tabet said. "It's important to know what's out there after the conference tournament. There was no predicting that we would be in the NCAAs, but I feel like we did a good job preparing and I think we peaked at the right time."

It's back to the drawing board for Tabet, who will have to replace the bulk of his lineup for next season. Hopefully the loss of Pagan (No.3), Liew (No.4) and Nakamura (No.6) will be offset by returning Tomic and Weikard, along with incoming freshmen Kimberly Loo and Cassie Hochwalt.
-AP-