Montgomery, Ala.- The Belhaven men's and women's tennis teams squared off against Cumberland University (TN) in the Auburn University-Montgomery Spring Invitational on Friday night. Both teams lost by final scores of 5-4 to the Bulldogs. The 8th ranked men's team dropped to 7-2 while the women are now 6-4 following the setback.

"The women's team is getting stronger by the match", Head Coach Levi Patton said. "I hope we can take the leap forward that we are looking for, but we have been playing like a top 25 team. Both teams played well overall, but it was a tough battle. We'll pick ourselves up by our bootstraps and be ready for action in the morning,"

In women's doubles, the No. 18 Bulldogs teamed up to knock off the Blazers 2-1. The lone Belhaven victory was won by default at the No. 3 spot. The Bulldogs' Dedic/Gizdic defeated Smith/Chrestman 8-1 in the No.1, and the Bulldogs' Sepulveda/Jecker teamed up to knock off Jeffcoat/Lichlyter 8-5 in the No. 2.

In women's singles, Cumberland's No. 1 Angelica Sepulveda defeated Stephanie Smith 6-1, 6-0. Alena Gizdic topped Katherine Campbell in the No. 2 6-0, 6-2. Antea Dedic got past Mary Lichlyter 6-2, 7-5 in the No. 3. The Blazers were victorious on the remaining courts with Rachel Jeffcoat defeating Franki Jecker 6-3, 7-5 in the No. 4; Elizabeth Chrestman earned a win over Tais Lacerda Bezerra 6-3, 5-7, 7-6, (3). Belhaven won the No. 6 by default.

Cumberland earned wins in two of the three double sets with the lone Blazer victory coming in the No.2 set featuring Borghi/Patriarca 8-6 over Borrero/Tokas.

In men's singles the Blazers split six matches with the Bulldogs. Nikita Lisov defeated Pedro Rodriguez 6-2, 7- 6 in the No. 2; David Mejia out fought Andres Burgos 3-6, 7-5, 10-4 in the No. 5 and Enrico Patriarca finished things off with a 6-2, 7-6 defeat of Garry Tokas in the No. 6.

Both teams will face Auburn-Montgomery Saturday morning at 9:00 to open the second day of the event.

Women's
Singles
1. Angelica Sepulveda (CU) def. Stephanie Smith (BEL), 6-1, 6-0
2. Alena Gizdic (CU) def. Katherine Campbell (BEL), 6-0, 6-2
3. Antea Dedic (CU) def. Mary Lichlyter (BEL), 6-2, 7-5
4. Rachel Jeffcoat (BEL) def. Franki Jecker (CU), 6-3, 7-5
5. Elizabeth Chrestman (BEL) def. Tais Lacerda Bezerra (CU), 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (3)
6. Belhaven won by default

DOUBLES
1. Dedic-Gizdic (CU) def. Smith-Chrestman (BEL), 8-1
2. Sepulveda-Jecker (CU) def. Jeffcoat-Lichlyter (BEL), 8-5
3. Belhaven won by default

Men's
SINGLES
1. Antonio Manuel Marcelo (CU) def. Andre Borghi (BEL), 7-5, 6-4
2. Nikita Lisov (BEL) def. Pedro Rodrigues (CU), 6-2, 7-6
3. Pablo Borrero (CU) def. Jefferson Nino (BEL), 6-1, 6-1
4. Diogo Soares (CU) def. Daniel Prado (BEL), 7-5, 6-2
5. David Mejia (BEL) def. Andres Burgos (CU), 3-6, 7-5, 10-4
6. Enrico Patriarca (BEL) def. Garry Tokas (CU), 6-2, 7-6

DOUBLES
1. Manual-Soares (CU) def. Lisov-Nino (BEL), 9-8
2. Borghi-Patriarca (BEL) def. Borrero-Tokas (CU), 8-6
3. Burgos-Rodriguez (CU) def. Prado-Mejia (BEL), 8-2