SUMTER, S.C. – Davenport women's tennis doubles duo Emily Spiech and Alyssa Fuentes closed out the USTA/ITA National Small College Championships Thursday and Friday 1-2 but did turn in the program's best finish in the tournament of sixth place.
 
The second-seeded Panthers were defeated in the first round of the eight-team bracket 2-6, 6-3, 1-0 (9) by Graceland's (Iowa) Jessica Worring and Katherine Rodriguez. They did pick up a consolation win over Auburn Montgomery's Anna Rudolfova and Paula Diaz 6-3, 6-4 but were eliminated by another pair of Warhawks, Claudine Maheu and Alice Baudeigne, in the second match 6-2, 6-1 Thursday.
 
The sixth-place finish at the USTA/ITA Small College Nationals is the highest in program history. Fuentes and Spiech finished seventh in last year's event while the program's inaugural participants, twins Diana Favela and Denisse Favela suffered two defeats in the fall of 2011.
 
With the fall schedule complete, the Panthers will use the winter to condition and prepare for the spring season, which is likely to begin during spring break from Feb. 22-28.
 
Tennis Contact: Rick Hoskin | 616-554-5045 | rhoskin@davenport.edu
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