The Stetson (2-1) women's tennis team fell to Iowa State (1-2) in a close match, losing by a score of 4-3 on Friday afternoon at the Mandy Stoll Tennis Center.

"Iowa State played very well," Director of Tennis Pierre Pilote said after the match. "They are surely deserving of the victory."

In doubles, Junior Lindsey Cable (Gainesville, Fla.) and freshman Eveline Lepinay (Quebec City, Quebec) got the Hatters off to a good start, winning 8-4 against Emma Waites and Meghan Cassens.

Iowa State was able to come back and take the final two doubles matches to earn the first point. Seniors Sara Lazarevic (Calgary, Alta.) and Jen Miller (Tampa, Fla.) lost their match, falling 8-4 against Simona Cacciuttolo and Caroline Andersen.

Freshman Andrea Crespo (Valencia, Spain) and junior Diana Bukajeva (Riga, Latvia) then lost a tough match, losing 9-7 to Ksenia Pronina and Jenna Langhorst, giving the Cyclones the point. "The doubles point was important as always today, and it eventually decided the match," Pilote said.

In singles competition, Crespo was defeated for the first time this season, falling to Cacciuttolo 6-1, 6-0 at the number one position. That gave Iowa State a 2-0 lead over Stetson.  Tatje got the Hatters on the board with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Cassens in number three singles.

Lepinay was then defeated by Waites, losing 6-1, 7-5, which gave the Cyclones a 3-1 lead. Cable picked up a victory in her match, winning 6-2, 7-6 (5) from the number five position, getting Stetson its second point of the match.

Bukajeva won a thrilling three set match, defeating Pronina 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 to tie the match at 3-3. However, Iowa State was able to prevail when Ana Gasparavic topped Jen Miller by a score of 6-4, 6-1.

"We have many aspects of the game to work on before our next match," Pilote conclude.  "I know that we can play much better, and that's what we will strive to do.

The Hatters return to the courts on Feb. 23 when they take on Florida A&M at 10:00 a.m. at the Mandy Stoll Tennis Center.

Match Notes: Sara Lazarevic was scratched from the singles lineup after getting injured during doubles ... The Hatters are 0-4 all-time against the Big 12.