LIVINGSTON, Ala. –  The University of West Alabama men's and women's tennis team dropped 8-1 decisions to nationally ranked Valdosta State on Friday in Gulf South Conference tennis action.

The UWA men fall to 10-4 on the season after winning seven straight matches entering the day.  The Tiger women drop to 9-5 on the season.  Both teams drop to 0-2 in league play.  VSU entered the match ranked third in the collegiate tennis rankings, while the Blazer women are sixth nationally.

In the men's match, the UWA lone point came in doubles play as the tandem James Gardner and Juan Felipe Tellez edged VSU's pairing of Konstantin Kutschenko and Otto Lenhart, 9-7 at No. 3 doubles.  Tellez dropped a straight sets match to the top-ranked singles player, Philip Packebusch, according to the Intercollegiate Tennis Association.  Alvaro De La Torre also fell in straight sets to fourth-ranked Daniel Dueren of VSU.  Danish Ahmad dropped a tough 7-6, 7-5 decision to No. 18 Christian Hansen.

In the women's match, the Blazers cruised past the Red and White in doubles.  UWA's Katy Shoptaugh turned in the Tiger's only point as she topped VSU's Leslie Roberge, 6-2, 6-1 at No. 6 spot.  Brittney Bowden and Angy Cuellar their singles matches to nationally ranked players – No. 40 Raphaelle Durante and No. 9 Tina Trautmann.

Both squads return to action on March 19, travelling to Americus, Ga. to face Fort Valley State and Georgia Southwestern.