WINONA LAKE, Ind. - The upset bid fell just short for Grace's women's tennis in the season opener against #RV Bethel on Tuesday afternoon. The match wasn't decided until the final point of the match with the visitors escaping with a narrow 4-3 margin.

The doubles point was deadlocked at one apiece before the Pilots got the advantage needed to secure the point. Jimena Ramirez and Alejandra Sandoval won 6-3, but Lydia Ruegsegger and Geraldine Salinas dropped the clincher in a tough one, 6-7 (5) at No. 2 doubles.

The score went back and forth when the match flipped to singles play. Ramirez leveled the score at 1-1 with a commanding 6-3, 6-2 from the top spot. Bethel edged ahead with the next two points with wins at No.4 and No. 6 to lead 3-1 with two matches still going.

The Lancers wouldn't go quietly, however, with Sandoval and Natalie Schoenherr adding to the tally to tie things up at three. Each won with ease 6-3, 6-2 and 6-3, 6-1, respectively. 

The final point of the match came down to court two. Trailing after the first set, Salinas nearly forced a third-set tiebreaker before falling 1-6, 6-7 (2) to close out the day.

Grace will look to get in the win column on Thursday when they travel to St. Francis for another Crossroads League match.

DOUBLES

Ramirez/Sandoval def. Ferenczy/Palini, 6-3
Kokoula/El Sayed def. Ruegsegger/Salinas, 7-6 (5)
Abdelaal/Sharaf def. Runestad/Schoenherr, 6-3

SINGLES

Jimena Ramirez def. Ariadne Kokoula, 6-3, 6-2
Kaavya Palani def. Geraldine Salinas, 6-1, 7-6 (2)
Alejandra Sandoval def. Szilvi Ferenczy, 6-4, 6-2
Kenzie Abdelaal def. Lydia Ruegsegger, 6-4, 6-1
Natalie Schoenherr def. Alexia Pena, 6-3, 6-2
Sandy Sharaf def. Molli Runestad, 6-0, 6-1