MADISON, Wis. – The St. Scholastica women's tennis team was defeated by 22nd-ranked Coe College (Iowa) 5-4 this morning at the Midwest Invitational at the Nielson Tennis Center.

This is the Saints' first trip to Midwest Invite, which features the top teams in the region. The Saints will now face the loser of the Luther College (Iowa) and Wheaton College (Ill.) match tomorrow morning in the consolation bracket. Coe moves on to face top-seeded University of Chicago.

CSS lost to the Kohawks earlier this season down in Florida by a score of 6-3, but played very well. Today's match would be even closer.

The Saints just about swept all three doubles matches as the No. 2 team of #Katie Motley# (Jr.-Eveleth, Minn./Eveleth-Gilbert) and #Paula Beckermann# (Jr.-Spicer, Minn./New London-Spicer) won 9-7 and the No. 3 team of #Natalie Urick# (Jr.-Virginia, Minn.) and #Kelly Ross# (Jr.-Buffalo, Minn.) won 8-2. The No.1 team of #Ploy Suthijindawong# (Fr.-Bangkok, Thailand/Duluth Central) and #Callee Conda# (So.-Hibbing, Minn.) went to a tiebreaker against their opponents, but eventually fell in the tiebreaker 7-5. Ploy and Conda are ranked 15th in the Central Region by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, while Coe's No.1 team is ranked fourth.

In singles action, Ploy extended her winning streak to 10 with a 6-1, 6-1 victory. The Kohawks took the next three flights, including winning the No. 3 spot in a third-set super tie-breaker. Natalie Urick (Virginia, Minn./Virginia HS) won at No. 5 singles by scores of 6-1, 7-5. Coe would win at the No. 6 spot to give the Kohawks the team victory.

The Saints fall to 9-5 overall this season, while the Kohawks improve to 17-5. In addition to their match in Madison tomorrow, the other half of the team will host North Central University tomorrow afternoon in the Burns Wellness Commons. That match is set to begin at approximately 5 p.m., following the men's match.