CLEVELAND, Tenn. – In a highly competitive match on Wednesday, the Valdosta State women's tennis team gave No. 36 Lee a fight to the end as the Blazers fell 5-2.  The Blazers dropped to 4-6 overall and 3-2 in Gulf South Conference play, while Lee improved to 9-3 overall and 4-2 in league play.
 
The Lady Flames opened the match with a pair of victories at Nos. 1 and 2 doubles to clinch the point.  Blazer duo of junior Natalie Kohoutkova and freshman Evelyn Altmaier were leading 4-3 at No. 3 doubles when the point was clinched. 
 
In singles, the Blazers tied the match at 1-1 as junior Kayla Greco won 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 at No. 3 singles over Martin Ujdur, but Lee's Micaela Maiz won 6-3, 7-5 over freshman Olivia Pezo at No. 2.  Kohoutkova gave No. 39 Ashleigh Simes all she could handle at the top spot as Simes won the opening set 7-6 (7-5), while Kohoutkova roared back for a 7-5 victory in the second set, but Simes responded for a 6-2 victory the third set as Lee jumped out to a 3-1 lead.
 
Sophomore Anastasiia Vorobiova lost at No. 4, 6-4, 6-4, as Lee clinched the victory, but Altmaier won at No. 6, 6-2, 6-4 for the final 5-2 margin.  It was Altmaier's second-straight win and third of the last four matches. 
 
The Blazers return home to prepare for a weekend of three matches as they will turn around and head to Montgomery, Ala., for a Saturday match with Christian Brothers, followed by a pair of matches on Sunday in Pensacola, Fla., versus West Georgia and No. 15 Mississippi College.  Check back with vstateblazers.com for complete recaps and stats of the matches.