LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The University of West Alabama tennis teams split a pair of non-conference matches Saturday with the men taking a 5-3 win over Bellarmine, while the women fell to the Knights, 6-3.
 
With the win, the UWA men's tennis team improves to 5-0 on the year, while Bellarmine falls to 2-4. Meanwhile, the Tiger women's team moves to 2-2.
 
The West Alabama men started off the day by winning two out of three doubles courts. Luis Ruiz and Anton Ivanov won the second court 8-2, followed by Antoine Freitas and Honorio Fernandez who took down their opponent 8-1, giving the Tigers a 2-1 advantage going into singles.
 
On court No. 1, Nestor Vargas fell in the first singles contest, 6-0, 6-0, tying the match at 2-2. Anton Ivanov and Adam Drysdale would quickly give the Tigers a two-point lead winning their both their matches in tight three-set affairs.
 
Ivanov won his contest on the second court by a score of 6-2, 4-6 6-1, while Drysdale put away his opponent 6-7, 6-1, 6-2 on the third court. Honorio Fernandez then finished the day for the Tigers when he claimed a two-set victory, 6-1, 6-0.
 
On the women's side, UWA fell in a 6-3 contest to Bellarmine, improving the Knights' record to 5-2 on the season.
 
The Tigers were swept on the doubles courts after playing tough at each position. The closest Knight advantage came at Court No. 1 where Lisa Backer and Jill Furlong lost in a tight 9-8 contest.
 
Going into singles down 3-0 the Tigers looked for strong individual performance to get back into the match. Junior Angy Cuellar put the Tigers on the board with a 0-6, 6-2, 5-3, win on court three. Following that triumph, Lisa Backer and Emily Gerding gave the Tigers two more points with each taking 8-6 wins. Those three wins were not enough, however, as UWA fell, 6-3. 
 
The Tigers continue action tomorrow against Northern Kentucky. Both UWA squads are scheduled to play tomorrow with action starting at 8 a.m.