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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Davenport held a 4-3 advantage on the No. 12 ranked Indiana Wesleyan Wildcats a pair of three-set losses in the final two matches lifted the visitors to a come from behind win over host Davenport. DU fell behind 2-1 in doubles only to win three of the first four singles matches before dropping the last two to fall by the slimmest of margins 5-4. The Panthers, now 11-7 on the year, will host Ashford University (Iowa) on Saturday at 3 p.m.

Davenport was looking for a signature win on an already fantastic regular season but they came up one match short today in their contest with Indiana Wesleyan who came into the week ranked No. 12 in the NAIA.

IWU got out to a fast start with a pair of wins at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles but the Panthers did manage to grab a point as the tandem of Emily Spiech and Alyssa Fuentes won 8-2 over the top ranked doubles team in the region from IWU.

Needing four of the six singles matches to go their way to pull off the upset, Davenport got three straight wins from their three top players Emily Spiech (6-2, 6-2), Alyssa Fuentes (6-0, 6-3) and Kristi Kuzdal (6-3, 7-5) to gain a 4-2 lead over the Wildcats. IWU then got a win at No. 6 bringing the overall match down to the final two pairings at No. 4 and No. 5.

DU could not muster one more point as Marcie Kooyers fell in three sets at No. 4, 6-3, 1-6, 7-5 and Angelica Woods did the same in a heartbreaking third set tie-breaker 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (1).

Davenport will look to rebound on Saturday when they host Ashford at 3 p.m.

Post-Match Quotes – Head coach Patrick Grashorn

“Bittersweet sums up the women's match. I believe we played good enough to take them down today but it just wasn't meant to be. All the girls played great but I was truly impressed with our play at the top considering the national recognition IWU has earned at the top of their lineup. Emily, Alyssa and Kristi took down three nationally ranked players in straight sets and our win at #1 doubles was against the 8th ranked doubles team nationally. I'm really happy with how the girls are playing right now and their confidence couldn't be higher. Coming that close and losing has just made them hungrier for the next one.” 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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