Women's Tennis | 10/11/2014 4:10:00 PM

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Liberty University women's tennis team suffered its first loss of the season Friday night, dropping a 7-2 decision to West Virginia State in a Mountain East Conference showdown at the Charleston Tennis Club.
    Coach Heather Gallagher's Hilltoppers (9-1, 6-1) came out on the short end of three tightly-contested doubles matches and couldn't make up the deficit in singles play as the host Yellowjackets (6-1, 6-0) – whose only loss was a 9-0 shellacking at the hands of NCAA Division I Morehead State – grabbed the inside track to their second straight MEC regular season title.
    West Liberty has completed conference play and clinched the No. 2 seed in next week's MEC Tournament. State wraps up its league schedule at home Sunday against West Virginia Wesleyan.
    Despite the loss, there were some bright spots for the Hilltoppers on Friday night. Lauren Howard breezed to a 6-4 6-0 win against Brittany Franco in a battle of All-MEC standouts at No. 1 singles while Alex Barr bounced back from a 6-1 loss in the first set to knock off Nina Dillwald, 1-6 7-5 (10-8) at No. 4 singles.
    West Liberty closes out its fall season slate at noon Sunday with a home non-conference match against Daemen (N.Y.). The MEC Tournament will run Friday through Sunday in Charleston.
   
WOMEN'S TENNIS
W.Va. State 7, West Liberty 2
Singles
Lauren Howard (WLU) d. Brittany Franco, 6-4 6-0
Brooke Campbell (WVSU) d. Emily Dawson, 6-4 6-3
Charlotte Sandy (WVSU) d. Raquel Cabero, 6-4 4-6 (10-8)
Alex Barr (WLU) d. Nina Dillwald, 1-6 7-5 (10-3)
Diana Cotoros (WVSU) d. Kate Pinchuk, 6-4 6-1
Brenda Cumpa (WVSU) d. Andrea Puga, 6-0 6-1
Doubles
Franco/Campbell (WVSU) d. Howard/Cabero, 8-4
Dillwald/Cotoros (WVSU) d. Dawson/Barr, 9-7
Sandy/Cumpa (WVSU) d. Pinchuk/Alaina Pauley, 8-6