NASHVILLE – Having the 3-1 advantage late in singles, the Lipscomb University women's tennis team was unable to snag the final point to clinch, as East Tennessee State University spoiled the conclusion of a four-match home stand with a 4-3 result, Saturday afternoon from the Ensworth Tennis Center. 

Final Score: East Tennessee State 4, Lipscomb 3
Location: Nashville, Tennessee (Ensworth Tennis Center)
Records: Lipscomb (4-2), East Tennessee State (2-3) 

HOW IT HAPPENED
It was another war in doubles for the Bisons, who saw themselves down early after Daniela Rivera and Alessandra Caceres won the top flight. However, Lipscomb quickly clinched the team point with identical 6-3 scores at the No. 2 and No. 3 spots. 

Rut Galindo and Deborah Dominguez Collado (2-0) won the No. 2 flight and Mariia Dolzhenko/Kameliia Tytarenko (1-0) took the dub at the No. 3. 

Lipscomb took that momentum into singles, getting out to a 3-1 lead with wins by Dolzhenko and Paladi. 

At the No. 2 flight, Dolzhenko (13-7) won her third in a row with a 2-6, 6-3, 6-1 score, while Sofiia Paladi (17-5) won her seventh consecutive match and improved to 6-0 in spring matches with a three-set win over Rivera, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2. 

The Bucs battled back to even at three after Ksenija Rage used a 7-6 (6) win in the first set to take the No. 6 point and Julia Millan used a three-set win to secure the No. 4 flight. 

Coming down to freshman Serafima Bobrovnikova and Ralitsa Alexandrova, each player took a set, and the final frame came down to a tiebreak. Despite Bobrovnikova (11-6) having a 3-1 lead in the tiebreak, Alexandrova came back to even the set at four points apiece. 

Lipscomb won the next two points to take the 6-4 advantage. Needing just one more to clinch the match, ETSU won the last four to seal the match for the visiting Bucs.

UP NEXT
Lipscomb will hit the road for a quick trip to the Magic City to take on UAB next Sunday, Feb. 16 for a noon first serve.