COLUMBUS, Miss. – The W women's tennis opened its Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) South Division slate with a 4-3 loss at home at the Garrett Courts. The Owls are now 3-7 (0-1 UMAC), while the Panthers evened their record at 4-4 (1-0 UMAC).
 
MUW found itself down, 1-0, in the team score after losing the doubles point. PC won at first and second doubles to secure the doubles tally. MUW's No. 3 doubles tandem of Emma Horton and Harley Lowry – the senior-freshman combo of Caledonia High School alumnae – was the only Owls' pair to win, fighting to a 7-5 victory.
 
The Panthers won second singles to take a 2-0 match lead. However, back-to-back singles wins by Alaina Mathis at No. 5 (6-1, 6-1) and by Horton (6-2, 6-0) at No. 6, briefly knotted the match at 2-2.
 
Principia would then take wins at the Nos. 3 and 1 slots, respectively, to clinch the contest. The W's Bailey Flynn would post a straight-set win (7-5, 6-0) at fourth singles for the final 4-3 score.