BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University women's tennis team fell to Carthage College, 4-3, in College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin play Saturday, Oct. 4. The Titans drop to 6-3 overall and 2-3 in league play, while the Firebirds improve to 4-2 (4-2 CCIW).

In doubles, Carthage struck first with a 6-2 victory at No 2. At the top spot, juniors Amber Ehrlich (Springfield, Ill.-Glenwood) and Olivia Bell (Bloomington, Ill.-Bloomington) evened the doubles score, defeating Xingchen Liu and Niki Manojlovic, 6-4. In the rubber match at the third doubles position, Adia Douglas (Flossmoor, Ill.-Homewood-Flossmoor) and Elana Religioso (Mahomet, Ill.-Mahomet) fell in a 7-6 (5) heartbreaker to Jordan Miller and Bella Rizzo, which gave the Firebirds the doubles point. 

In singles play, Carthage extended their lead to 3-0 with wins at No. 1 and No. 3 singles. Religioso put IWU on the board with a 6-3, 6-1 triumph over Rizzo at the sixth singles line. Douglas put the Titans within one after a 4-6, 6-3, 6-0 win at No. 5 singles. However, minutes later, Carthage clinched the match at the fourth singles spot. Sophomore Gabi Lipske (Gurnee, Ill.-Mundelein) rounded out the match with a three-set win in comeback fashion over Rya Arreazola at No. 2 singles, 1-6, 6-4, 6-2.

The Green and White conclude its three-match homestand with a CCIW homecoming contest, Friday, Oct. 10, against Wheaton College. First serve is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at Evergreen Racquet Club.

Singles competition
1. Liu, Xingchen (CC) def. Ehrlich, Amber (IWU) 6-0, 6-3
2. Lipske, Gabi (IWU) def. Arreazola, Rya (CC) 1-6, 6-4, 6-2
3. Peterson, Greta (CC) def. Van Heuklon, Katie (IWU) 6-1, 6-0
4. Manojlovic, Niki (CC) def. Bell, Olivia (IWU) 6-3, 2-6, 6-4
5. Souki, Nawal (CC) def. Douglas, Adia (IWU) 0-6, 6-3, 7-5
6. Religioso, Elana (IWU) def. Rizzo, Bella (CC) 6-3, 6-1

Doubles competition
1. Bell, Olivia/Ehrlich, Amber (IWU) def. Liu, Xingchen (CC), 6-4
2. Arreazola, Raya/Peterson, Greta (CC) def. Van Heuklon, Katie/Lipske, Gabi (IWU) 6-2
3. Miller, Jordan/Rizzo Bella (CC) def. Douglas, Adia/Religioso, Elana (IWU) 7-6 (5)