Boiling Springs, N.C. – Again shorthanded as it battles through injuries, the Western Carolina women's tennis team took the courts at Gardner-Webb on Wednesday, splitting doubles play before Mariya Dobreva and Mia Miranda claimed singles wins. However, the Catamounts were unable to overcome the limited lineup, falling to the Big South foe, 4-2.

Dobreva and Miranda claimed their second straight doubles victory, with Miranda notching her second singles victory in a row. The solo victory for Dobreva is her third consecutive win of the season as she now leads the team with a 4-2 record in singles play.

How it Happened:

Down in the doubles point after not being able to field a third pairing, Mariya Dobreva and Mia Miranda rolled Gardner-Webb's top pairing of Emma Shasteen and Greta Mursza in a 6-2 win, notching their second consecutive doubles victory in the process.

Gardner-Webb's Natalie Crawford and Valeria Lloclla secured the doubles point, though, on court two with a 6-3 win over Kelly Coetzee and Axelle Van Beurden. The doubles win gave the Runnin' Bulldogs a 2-0 lead in the match.

Miranda and Dobreva evened the overall match score at 2-2, with Miranda securing a straight-set 6-2, 6-2 win on court No. 2. Dobreva finished second in singles play, rallying from a 6-4 set one loss with a pair of wins, 6-0 and 6-4, for her third solo victory of the season.  

Gardner-Webb took a 3-2 lead with a 7-6, 7-5 win on the fourth court against Coetzee, and Natalie Crawford secured the Runnin' Bulldog victory with a 6-4, 6-7 (3-0), 6-4 win over Axelle Van Beurden on the third court.  

The Runnin' Bulldogs claimed a victory on court five due to a forfeit, but neither team fielded a player on the sixth court.

Up Next for The Catamounts:

WCU is back in action on Saturday, Feb. 14, as the Catamounts battle the Presbyterian Blue Hose in Clinton, S.C. The Catamounts then have some time away from competition before returning to the road to take on ETSU in Southern Conference play on Feb. 24.