OWATONNA, Minn. - Minnesota State grabbed a lead in doubles but could not hold on in singles in a 4-3 loss to University of Mary in NSIC women's tennis Sunday morning at Owatonna Indoor Tennis Center.

Chiara Carnelutti and Avery Stilwell teamed to win 7-5 at No. 1 and Elizabeth Felderman and McKenna DeMarce clinched the team doubles point at No. 3 with a 6-1 set.

Stilwell kept the momentum with a win at No. 3 singles 6-2, 6-4 over Ilona Freitag while Felderman defeated Emily Needham 6-3, 6-3 at No. 5. The Marauders came back with a win by retirement at No. 6 while Chloe Chong got past Canelutti in three sets at No. 1 singles 6-4, 1-6, 6-1.

Daria Podmogilnaia pushed Maria Estinvil to a second set tiebreak but came up empty 6-3, 6-7(3). Hala Hossam Awad needed three sets to defeat Freia Lawrence at No. 2, coming from behind 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.

"We knew this match was going to be one of the most challenging of the season," said head coach Tristen Bryant-Otake. "I thought we came out really strong in our doubles to get a lead and carried it into singles play. We fought hard to get those three singles points, but things just didn't swing our way in the end. It is only the beginning of the season and I am confident we will come away stronger having had this loss. There are many lessons to learn and I know we'll be back next weekend ready to go."

Minnesota State tennis plays Winona State next on Saturday, February 24 at 3 p.m.

SCORES
Doubles
No. 1 – MSU (Chiara Carnelutti/Avery Stilwell) def. UMARY (Chloe Chong/Ilona Freitag) 7-5
No. 2 – UMARY (Maria Estinvil/Hala Hossam Awad) def. MSU (Freia Lawrence/Hana Minisy) 6-1
No. 3 – MSU (Elizabeth Felderman/McKenna DeMarce) def. UMARY (Emily Needham/Luba Moyo) 6-1

Order of finish: 3,2,1
 
Singles
No. 1 – UMARY (Chloe Chong) def. MSU (Chiara Carnelutti) 6-4, 1-6, 6-1
No. 2 – UMARY (Hala Hossam Awad) def. MSU (Freia Lawrence) 4-6, 6-2, 6-3
No. 3 – MSU (Avery Stilwell) def. UMARY (Ilona Freitag) 6-2, 6-4
No. 4 – MSU (Daria Podmogilnaia) def. UMARY (Maria Estinvil) 6-3, 7-6(3)
No. 5 – UMARY (Emily Needham) def. MSU (Elizabeth Felderman) 6-3, 6-3
No. 6 – UMARY (Luba Moyo) def. MSU (McKenna DeMarce) *win by retirement