KANSAS CITY, Missouri – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley women's tennis team fell 1-6 to the University of Missouri Kansas City on Friday to start their second Western Athletic Conference cluster of the season. 
 
UTRGV (3-13, 2-2 WAC) fell behind early in doubles as they played a player short in the match. UMKC (8-7, 3-0 WAC) picked up the doubles point with a win on court two. UTRGV would not be shut out in doubles though, as the team of Marine Darzyan and Dominique Ibarra beat Melina Johnson and Yana Grechkina 6-4 on court one.
 
In singles, UMKC added another point with a win on court four but UTRGV got a point back on court two. Dominique Esparza had split the first two sets with Melinda Johnson. In the third, Esparza was up 3-0 before Johnson retired giving UTRGV the point.
 
UMKC won on court one, three and five to put the match away.
 
UTRGV will be back in action on tomorrow when they face off against Grand Canyon at 10 a.m.
 
Singles (4,2,1,3,5)
1. Aliona Ladutska (UMKC) def. Anastasia Belyaeva (UTRGV) 6-3, 2-6, 6-0
2. Dominique Esparza (UTRGV) def. Melinda Johnson (UMKC) 2-6, 6-4, 3-0 ret.
3. Mariam Kurasbediani (UMKC) def. Dominique Ibarra (UTRGV) 6-7 (6), 6-2, 10-8
4. Yana Grechkina (UMKC) def. Marine Darzyan (UTRGV) 6-2, 6-3
5. Katie Fries (UMKC) def. Chloe Leclere (UTRGV) 6-1, 6-1
6. Thanushree Vale (UMKC) def. No player (UTRGV) Forfeit
 
Doubles (2,1)
1. Marine Darzyan/Dominique Ibarra (UTRGV) def. Melinda Johnson/Yana Grechkina (UMKC) 6-4
2. Mariam Kurnasbediani/Thanushree Vale (UMKC) def. Dominique Esparza/Anastasia Belyaeva (UTRGV) 6-4
3. Aliona Ladutska/Marina Albert (UMKC) def. No Player/No Player (UTRGV) Forfeit
 
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