Women's Tennis | 10/12/2011 10:23:00 AM

    CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Liberty University women's tennis team just missed pulling into a three-way tie for the West Virginia Conference lead Tuesday afternoon when the Lady Hilltoppers dropped a 5-4 decision at league-leading Charleston.
    The Golden Eagles (8-1) improved to 7-0 in WVIAC play while West Liberty (6-4) dropped to third place in the tightly-packed conference standings with a 5-2 league mark. West Virginia State (9-1, 7-1) now appears locked in at second place heading into next week's WVIAC Championships.
    Charleston grabbed an early 2-1 advantage in Tuesday's match by winning two of the three doubles contests. The Golden Eagles preserved that slim margin by splitting the six singles matches to eke out the narrow win.
    Lauren Howard, Emma Windsor and Raissa Wischi rolled to straight-set singles wins for the Hilltoppers with Howard and Wischi teaming up for a convincing win at No. 1 doubles.
    The West Liberty women will close out their regular-season slate on Sunday when they host Bluefield State at the Edgar Martin Tennis Complex. The WVIAC Championships get under way in Charleston on Friday, Oct. 21.
 
WOMEN'S TENNIS
Charleston 5, West Liberty 4
Singles
Lauren Howard (WLU) d. Marcela Torres (UC), 6-0 6-1
Emma Windsor (WLU) d. Sarah Monsheimer (UC), 6-3 6-4
Raissa Wischi (WLU) d. Laura Smith (UC), 6-4 6-1
Kelsey Henley (UC) d. Alex Barr (WLU), 6-2 4-6 6-2
Mallika Mali (UC) d. Christina Pauley (WLU), 6-0 6-0
Davina Holtferter (UC) d. Moleigh Poling (WLU), 6-2 6-3
Doubles
Howard/Wischi (WLU) d. Torres/Smith (UC), 8-3
Hensley/Monsheimer (UC) d. Windsor/Barr (WLU), 8-4
Mali/Holtferter (UC) d. Pauley/Howells (WLU), 8-0