CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Liberty University women's tennis team dropped a 4-1 decision to West Virginia State here Saturday in a Mountain East Conference Tournament semifinal between regionally-ranked powers at the Charleston Tennis Club.
    Coach Heather Gallagher's Hilltoppers, ranked No. 5 in the Atlantic Region and the No. 2 seed in the tournament, got off to a fast start with a convincing win at doubles.
    The All-MEC tandem of Evelina Martirosyan and Gemma Cliffe rolled to a 6-2 win at No. 2 doubles and Jacqueline Pena-Aceves teamed with Ishika Agarwal for a 6-4 victory in the No. 3 slot to lock up the doubles point.
    The Yellowjackets, ranked No. 2 in the Atlantic Region and the tournament's No. 3 seed, turned the tables in singles play.
    West Virginia State took a 2-1 lead with straight-set wins at No. 4 and No. 6 singles and West Liberty couldn't break the momentum. A 6-2 6-2 Yellowjacket decision at No. 1 singles put them one win away from victory, which came a few minutes later in a 6-3 6-3 win by Maya Haidari at No. 3 singles.
    Despite the disappointing setback, the Hilltoppers remain in contention for an NCAA Division II Atlantic Region Tournament berth. Regional seeds and pairings will be announced early next week.
  Arnal/Shchoma (WLU) vs. Solomon/Malo (WVSU) 4-3 (DNF)
Martirosyan/Cliffe (WLU) def. Moore/Haidari (WVSU) 6-2
Pena-Aceves/Agarwal (WLU) def. Daszkiewicz/Rolland (WVSU) 6-4 Gaya Solomon (WVSU) def. Emma Arnal (WLU) 6-2, 6-2
Evelina Martirosyan (WLU) vs. Chante Malo (WVSU) 1-6, 4-2 (DNF)
Maya Haidari (WVSU) def. Gemma Cliffe (WLU) 6-3, 6-3
Julieta Beltramino (WVSU) def. Jaqueline Pena-Aceves (WLU) 6-2, 6-2
Daria Shchoma (WLU) vs. Lea Rolland (WVSU) 4-6, 6-2, 2-1 (DNF)
Julia Daszkiewicz (WVSU) def. Ishika Agarwal (WLU) 6-1, 6-1