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CULLOWHEE, N.C. - The Western Carolina women's tennis team fell 4-3 in its home opener Saturday afternoon to Wright State. The Catamounts had to play the match with just five players after freshman Elizabeth Ansari was lost due to injury earlier this week. WCU's top two singles players cruised to victories in their respective matches and they teamed up to take the No. 1 doubles match by a score of 8-1.

"I'm really proud of the way we competed today and gave ourselves a chance to win despite starting the match already down a point," said head coach Michaela Kissell-Eddins. "I thought our doubles looked good and we competed hard at every position in singles, earning three individual victories. If we can build off of the level we played at today we will put ourselves in many more situations to win matches."

Junior Shannon Bettiol played in the No. 1 slot and defeated Vanessa Madrigal of Wright State 6-2, 6-1. Bettiol is now 2-2 on the year in singles matches including 1-1 at the top spot. Senior Megan McLinden played at No. 2 and won her match over Aby Madrigal, 6-2, 6-0. McLinden is also 2-2 in singles matches this season including 1-1 at the No. 2 spot.

Bettiol and McLinden teamed up to defeat the team of Linsey Verstrepen and Karoline Haller in the No. 1 doubles match 8-1.

Junior Erin Maguire picked up WCU's only other victory as she downed Tori Turner, 4-6, 6-3, 10-6 in a hard fought match at No. 4. Maguire is also now 2-2 on the year including a perfect 1-0 at No. 4.

With the loss the Catamounts fall to 1-3 on the year. Wright State improved its record to 4-5.

Junior Nicole Nielly dropped the No. 3 singles match to Haller by a tight score of 7-5, 3-6, 6-4. Freshman Montse Mesalles moved up to the No. 5 slot with the absence of Ansari and fell 6-1, 6-2 to Elaine Cloern.

Mesalles and Nielly teamed up at No. 2 doubles and fell 8-5 to V. Madrigal and Megan Brdicka.

The Catamounts will be back in action this Monday as they take on Longwood University in a neutral site match in Spartanburg, S.C.