ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western tennis team (8-5, 0-1 MIAA) lost its first match of the MIAA conference schedule on Thursday, as Northwest Missouri bested the Griffons 5-2 at Genesis Health Club in St. Joseph.

The Griffons were unable to pick up a win in the doubles, with two of their losses coming in close 6-4 decisions. Karolina Ström and Joanna Abreu Roman suffered just their second loss as a doubles pair in 13 duals this season.

All four of Missouri Western’s defeats in singles play came in two sets. However, both Ström and Bojana Vuksan scored points for the Griffons as they closed out the match with two victories. After dropping the first set on the number one courts, Ström took control in the following two sets to come away with a 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 comeback win.

After splitting the first two sets on the number six courts, Vuksan won a back-and-forth third set by a score of 12-10, earning her sixth-straight victory in singles.

Missouri Western will travel to Arkansas Tech (4-3) for its next match on March 16.

MWSU VS. NWMSU
SINGLES
Karolina Ström (MWSU) def. Tania Teruel (NWMSU) 3-6, 6-2, 6-1
Irene Recuenco, Irene (NWMSU) def. Mireia Birosta (MWSU) 6-1, 6-0
Marta Ferrando, Marta (NWMSU) def. Joanna Abreu Roman (MWSU) 6-3, 6-1
Julia Aliseda, Julia (NWMSU) def. Ciara Gilmore (MWSU) 6-1, 6-4
Julie Rinderknech, Julie (NWMSU) def. Federica Salmaso (MWSU) 6-3, 6-0
Bojana Vuksan,Bojana (MWSU) def. Sara Grozdanovic (NWMSU) 2-6, 6-1, 12-10

DOUBLES
Ferrando/Teruel (NWMSU) def. Ström/Abreu Roman (MWSU) 6-4
Aliseda/Rinderknech (NWMSU) def. Salmaso/Vuksan (MWSU) 6-4
Grozdanovic/Recuenco (NWMSU) def. Birosta/Dunn (MWSU) 6-0

— MWSU Athletics —