CLINTON, S.C. – The Presbyterian College women's tennis team dropped a close conference match to Gardner-Webb, 4-3, on Wednesday afternoon at the Templeton Tennis Courts. The Blue Hose go to 5-3 overall, 0-1 in the Big South, while Gardner-Webb improves to 2-3 overall, 1-0 in Big South play.

Gardner-Webb claimed the early lead by taking two of the three doubles matches. The Bulldogs' Catherine White and Sarah Rieckmann earned a 6-3 win at No. 3 but Caroline Ferrari and Demi Henschel evened it with a 6-3 at No. 1. The deciding match came on court two as GWU's Rokia Sacko and Mark Walker Mixon claimed a 6-4 victory for the 1-0 match lead.

Singles play featured competitive matches between two evenly matched teams. Sacko gave the Bulldogs the 2-0 lead with a 6-1, 6-4, victory at No. 1 and Mixon made it 3-0 with a 6-4, 6-4 match on court six. Tracy Johnson responded for PC with a 6-1, 7-6 (7-3) win at No. 2 to cut the lead to 3-1.

Gardner-Webb clinched the match as Catherine White rallied back on court five for a three-set win by scores of 4-6, 6-0, 6-2. PC would claim the final two matches in hard fought fashion. Brittany Nuttall dropped the opening set at No. 4, 6-4, but responded to take the final two sets, 6-4, 7-5.

Demi Henschel then closed out the final match of the day with a very tight, three-set victory on court three. The sophomore captured set one, 6-4, but dropped the second to Sandra Bolstad, 6-2. The final frame went to tiebreaker with Henschel coming out on top, 7-6 (7-1), to take the match 2-1 and make it a 4-3 final.

The Blue Hose are back in action on Saturday when they to Western Carolina for a 1 p.m. match with the Catamounts.

Gardner-Webb 4, Presbyterian 3

Singles
1. SACKO, Rokia (GWU) def. Caroline Ferrari (PC) 6-1, 6-4
2. Tracy Johnson (PC) def. MAGNUSSON, Stina (GWU) 6-1, 7-6 (7-3)
3. Demi Henschel (PC) def. BOLSTAD, Sandra (GWU) 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7-1)
4. Brittany Nuttall (PC) def. RIECKMANN, Sarah (GWU) 4-6, 6-4, 7-5
5. WHITE, Catherine (GWU) def. Claire-Mitchell Andrews (PC) 4-6, 6-0, 6-2
6. MIXON, Mary Walker (GWU) def. Nicole Croxton (PC) 6-4, 6-4

Doubles
1. Caroline Ferrari/Demi Henschel (PC) def. BOLSTAD, Sandra/FERMOSEL, Laura (GWU) 6-3
2. SACKO, Rokia/MIXON, Mary Walker (GWU) def. Claire-Mitchell Andrews/Tracy Johnson (PC) 6-4
3. WHITE, Catherine/RIECKMANN, Sarah (GWU) def. Brittany Nuttall/Nicole Croxton (PC) 6-3

Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (1,6,2,5,4,3)