MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The Pirate women's tennis team played well at the annual Rhodes Invitational but were defeated in their two matches against conference opponents Rhodes and Birmingham Southern. SU fell 5-4 to BSC and 7-2 to Rhodes.

The Pirates opened up weekend play strong, dominating doubles against Birmingham Southern. Jessica Gaines and Elyse Bigler got things started with an 8-6 win in #1 doubles while Lali Satyavada and Victoria DeLeon easily handled Lamere/Gartman 8-1 in the #2 slot. Aimee Blake and Kristina Krampitz made it three for three with an 8-3 over Moore/Brooks in #3 doubles.

With the momentum on their side Southwestern seemed poised to take the match. DeLeon narrowly lost her #1 singles match against B. Cooper, falling 4-6, 6-4, 12-10. Bigler kept SU in the lead with a #2 singles win, 6-2, 6-3, over E. Holst.

Needing one more victory in the final four matches to secure the win Southwestern was unable to pull it out. Blake came the closest after winning her first set 6-3 in #6 singles, but was eventually defeated in a tie-breaker set 11-9 after dropping the second set 6-4.

Gaines and Hogenson both fell 6-2, 6-4 in their #3 and #4 singles matches.

After a tough loss the Pirates looked to regroup but found themselves in a hole after doubles against Rhodes. Gaines/Bigler and Satyavada/DeLeon both fell 8-2 while Blake/Krampitz were defeated 8-6.

Bigler once again won in singles action, defeating Hauner 6-7, 7-5, 10-6 in a tough fought match in the #2 slot. Blake was able to snag the victory in her singles match as well, taking down Elbaum 6-3, 6-2 in #6 singles.

No other Pirate was able to secure a win as SU ultimately fell 7-2 to the Lynx.

Southwestern comes home for the first time this spring as they face Howard Payne University on Saturday beginning at 10am.