LINCOLN, Neb. – The Western Michigan women's tennis team dropped a hard-fought match, 4-3, to Utah State at the University of Nebraska's Dillon Tennis Center on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Broncos (1-2) got off to a strong start again, winning the doubles point. Lindsey Zieglar and Valeriya Monko earned a quick 6-0 win at No. 1 over Sidnee Lavatai and Zeynep Naz Ozturk . Junior Karin Hamilton and freshman Audrey Smitek clinched the point with a 6-4 win at No. 2 over Monique Burton and Magdalena Nunez.
 
The Aggies tied it up with a win at No. 3 singles by Burton over Monk, 6-2, 6-2. USU pushed ahead, 2-1, with a win at No. 1 by Naz Oturk, 6-2, 6-4 over Zieglar. Utah State then took a 3-1 lead with a 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 win at No. 2 by Lisa Kung over Hamilton. Freshman Ariane Souligny responded with a three-set win at No. 6 over Annaliese County, 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 to cut the lead to one before Smitek tied it up at 3-3 with a win at No. 5 over Nunez 3-6, 6-3, 6-1. The match came down to No. 4 singles, with Laura Fernanda defeating May Perkucin, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 to seal the victory for the Aggies.
 
The Broncos are back at home for a pair of matches next weekend at West Hills Athletic Club. WMU hosts Oakland on Friday at 11 a.m. and then welcomes Illinois-Chicago on Saturday at 12 p.m. Admission is free.