Leavenworth, Kan.— USM women's tennis claimed two of the three doubles matches Saturday, but McPherson would ultimately take control in singles and handed the Spires a 6-1 loss for their last weekend in Leavenworth. USM built early momentum, only to see the Bulldogs sweep all six singles flights to secure the team result.

The Spires' lone team point came from doubles play. At No. 1 doubles, Mia Rojas and Shannon Finn earned a 6-2 win over McPherson's Nashiku and Ellerbee. Saint Mary's No. 3 doubles team of Courtney Standley and Arsys Rojas added another strong result with a 6-2 victory over Lesteluhu and Luisa de Lama. McPherson's only doubles win came at No. 2, where Hofer and Van Drunen posted a 6-0 decision over Monserrat Guerrero and Rowen Wiemers.

After that opening stretch, the Bulldogs flipped the match by winning every singles contest. Hofer defeated Mia Rojas 6-2, 6-0 at No. 1 singles, and Nashiku followed with a 6-0, 6-2 win over Shannon Finn at No. 2. At No. 3, Ellerbee and Monserrat Guerrero played one of the day's most competitive matches before Ellerbee prevailed 6-1, 6-7, 6-2.

McPherson also got straight-set wins from Van Drunen, who beat Courtney Standley 6-2, 6-1 at No. 4, and Lesteluhu, who topped Madyson Kline 7-5, 6-1 at No. 6. No. 5 singles produced another extended battle. Luisa de Lama outlasted Arsys Rojas in a match that featured multiple tiebreak moments, closing out the point in a final match tiebreak after a tightly contested opening set.

The Spires finished with two doubles victories but just couldn't top the Bulldog's pressure in singles play. For the Spires, the early doubles performances from Rojas and Finn, along with Standley and Arsys Rojas, stood out in a match that began with promise before McPherson's depth in singles decided the afternoon.

USM will travel to Winfield on Saturday, April 18^th to close out their regular season play against the Southwestern College Moundbuilders with matches set to begin at noon.