EVANSVILLE, Ind.—The University of Southern Indiana women's tennis team saw victory slip away in a thrilling 5-4 loss to Bellarmine University to open Great Lakes Valley Conference play.

USI (9-4, 0-1 GLVC) held a 2-1 lead after doubles play, as sophomore Brenna Wu and freshman Ashlee Hasson took number one doubles 8-4 and sophomore Kymberly Brannon and freshman Jennifer Mizikar earned an 8-6 win at number three.

The Eagles started singles play with a pair of victories by Wu and junior Elizabeth Wilm at number two and three singles, respectively. Bellarmine stormed back to take victories at number one, four, and five singles to even the competition at 4-4. In the match deciding number six singles match, Mizikar pushed her opponent to the brink before falling in a 6-1, 2-6, 7-5 marathon.


The Eagles return to action Monday at 2 p.m. when they host the University of Missouri-St. Louis for a men's and women's non-conference doubleheader.