KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Western Michigan women's tennis squad fell 4-3 versus the University of Illinois at Chicago on Thursday afternoon inside West Hills Athletic Club, concluding its non-conference slate with an 8-7 record. 

After Western Michigan went up 1-0 after clinching the doubles point, the visiting Flames answered in singles play as the match came down to a third set on court two, tied 3-3. UIC prevailed to take the one-point victory. 

WMU clinched the doubles point with a 6-4 win on court three from Azcui and Slavova. WMU's No. 2 pair of Lyubomirova and Tjon-A-Joe finished first with a 6-1 win.

After Katja Fevralev opened singles play with a 6-1, 6-4 win at the No. 3 spot, UIC responded with wins at courts five, six, and one to take a 3-2 advantage.

The match came down to Denise Azcui at court two and Femke Tjon-A-Joe at court four, both matches in third sets. After dropping her first set, Tjon-A-Joe bounced back with a 4-6, 6-1, 6-1 victory to tie the match at 3-3. Soon after, however, UIC's Bihel defeated Azcui to secure the 4-3 win for the Flames.

UIC 4, Western Michigan 3

Singles competition
1. COLIC, Lejla (UIC) def. Melina Lyubomirova (WTENWMU) 3-6, 6-2, 6-2
2. BIHEL, Karyna (UIC) def. Denise Azcui (WTENWMU) 2-6, 7-6, 6-4
3. Katja Fevralev (WTENWMU) def. PROCHAZKOVA, Lucie (UIC) 6-1, 6-4
4. Femke Tjon-A-Joe (WTENWMU) def. SANDERS, Georgie (UIC) 4-6, 6-1, 6-1
5. LE COMBER, Rachel (UIC) def. Kristina Tiraspolsky (WTENWMU) 6-3, 6-2
6. ARENDT, Nell (UIC) def. Valerie Riegraf (WTENWMU) 6-2, 6-4
 
Doubles competition
1. Katja Fevralev/Kristina Tiraspolsky (WTENWMU) vs. BIHEL, Karyna/LE COMBER, Rachel (UIC) 4-5, unfinished
2. Melina Lyubomirova/Femke Tjon-A-Joe (WTENWMU) def. PROCHAZKOVA, Lucie/SANDERS, Georgie (UIC) 6-1
3. Denise Azcui/Gabriela Slavova (WTENWMU) def. COLIC, Lejla/GULIN, Georgia (UIC) 6-4

Up Next
Western Michigan opens Mid-American Conference play next Friday, March 22, hosting Ball State University. The match is set to begin at 1 p.m.

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