MORROW, Ga. – After 10 days since their last match, Clayton State (0-2, 0-0 PBC) faced No. 48 Dallas Baptist (5-1, 0-0 HLC) in their 2017 home opener but could not overcome the nationally ranked foe, falling 8-1 in an NCAA Division II women's tennis match on Wednesday, February 22.
 
The Lakers would drop No. 2 and No. 3 doubles by 8-2 and 8-1 scores, respectively, before senior Kristiin Mets (Kuressaare, Estonia) and senior Darina Drozdova (St. Petersburg, Russia) went toe-to-toe with DBU's top tandem. They would send the match to an extra frame before falling 9-8 to Ana Marija Banic and Lacey Sprinkel.
 
Up 3-0, the Patriots would lock up the match with victories at No. 4 and No. 6 singles but could not secure the shutout. Junior Alina Ageichik (Minsk, Republic of Belarus) made sure of that as she notched a 6-1, 7-6 decision over Bianca Tijerina at No. 5 singles. Unfortunately that would be the only time that Clayton State would break through on the day.
 
The Lakers return to action on Saturday, February 25 when they host Montevallo for their Peach Belt Conference opener. First serve is set for 2 p.m. in Morrow, Georgia.
 
NOTES
This was the first meeting in program history between the two schools.
 
No. 48 Dallas Baptist 8, Clayton State 1

Singles competition

1. Ana Marija Banic (DBU) def. Darina Drozdova (CST) 7-5, 6-3

2. Lacey Sprinkel (DBU) def. Kristiin Mets (CST) 6-3, 6-0

3. Liz Slaughter (DBU) def. Laura Shkembi (CST) 6-2, 6-2

4. Skylar McDonald (DBU) def. Brianna Canty (CST) 6-1, 6-1

5. Alina Ageichik (CST) def. Bianca Tijerina (DBU) 6-1, 7-6

6. Cassidy Paul (DBU) def. Brittney Canty (CST) 6-2, 6-1

 

Doubles competition

1. Ana Marija Banic/Lacey Sprinkel (DBU) def. Kristiin Mets/Darina Drozdova (CST) 9-8

2. Liz Slaughter/Mikayla Rinker (DBU) def. Laura Shkembi/Carolina Monterrubio (CST) 8-2

3. Bianca Tijerina/Skylar McDonald (DBU) def. Alina Ageichik/Brittney Canty (CST) 8-1