JACKSON, Miss. – The Belhaven Blazers Women's Tennis team fell to the University of Texas at Tyler in a tight 5-4 battle on Saturday.
 
The Blazers fell behind early as the Patriots took a 2-1 lead after doubles action. AnneMarie Kimball and Natalia Lopez (7-0) continued their undefeated run in doubles play with an 8-4 win over Mary Alice Blacketer and Tori Musngi.
 
However, the pairing of Ivanna Echezuria and Mary Lichlyter (6-1) fell for the first time this season with an 8-3 defeat to Alexandra McKissick and Nicole Musngi.
 
Kimball and Lopez made it a perfect day with wins in singles action, giving the Blazers a chance at a comeback. Kimball (4-3) defeated Blacketer 6-4, 6-4.
 
Lopez (4-2) had a tight first set victory over Tori Musngi 7-5, but eased to a 6-0 victory in the second set with the win.
 
Despite the play of Kimball and Lopez, Belhaven still needed two more singles victories to complete the comeback. However, Mary Lichlyter (3-1) was the only other Blazer to pick up a win, defeating Alexandra McKissick 6-4, 6-0.
 
Belhaven will return to action on March 5 with a match against Tougaloo College.
 
Doubles
1. AnneMarie Kimball/Natalia Lopez (BU) def. Mary Alice Blacketer/Tori Musngi (UTT) 8-4
2. Alexandra McKissick/Nicole Musngi (UTT) def. Ivanna Echezuria/Mary Lichlyter (BU) 8-3
3. Kaitlyn Huskey/Lauren Kuhn (UTT) def. Brittany Keeling/Ellen Scott (BU) 8-2
 
Singles
1. AnneMarie Kimball (BU) def. Mary Alice Blacketer (UTT) 6-4, 6-4
2. Natalia Lopez (BU) def. Tori Musngi (UTT) 7-5, 6-0
3. Lauren Kuhn (UTT) def. Ivanna Echezuria (BU) 6-3, 6-2
4. Mary Lichlyter (BU) def. Alexandra McKissick (UTT) 6-4, 6-0
5. Nicole Musngi (UTT) def. Caroline Terry (BU) 6-1, 6-0
6. Janae Warren (UTT) def. Brittany Keeling (BU) 6-3, 6-0