COLUMBUS, Ga. – The Valdosta State women's tennis team won the doubles point, but were shorthanded in singles, falling 5-2 at No. 31 Columbus State Tuesday afternoon.
 
The Blazers (3-7) won two of the three matches in doubles as sophomore Natalie Rainke and senior Viktoriia Fedorova won 6-2 at No. 2 over Mariana Ramirez and Sofia Lauretti, while senior Oliva Pezo and freshman Alyssa Novoa won 7-6 (8-6) in a thriller at No. 1 to claim the team point.  VSU didn't have a No. 3 doubles team for the match so it had to forfeit at that spot.
 
The Cougars (9-4) won by forfeit at No. 6 singles for a 1-1 score, but the Blazers had their chances in singles as three matches went to the third set.  Ramirez, ranked No. 43 nationally won 6-3, 6-2 over Novoa at No. 2 for a 2-1 score and Isadora Oliviera won 6-3, 6-2 at No. 5 over senior Kayla Greco for a 3-1 lead.  Pezo posted a 6-1, 1-6, 6-4 win at No. 3 singles for a 3-2 score, but Rainke's upset-bid of No. 12 Nikoline Gullacksen came up just short, losing 7-5, 1-6, 4-6 at the top spot in a ranked matchup as Rainke is 27^th nationally.  Fedorova won the first set 7-5 over Sofia Laurenti, but dropped the second 4-6 and Laurenti won the super tiebreaker, 10-7 as the match already had been clinched.
 
The Blazers return to Gulf South Conference play this weekend as they travel to Montgomery, Ala., to face No. 15 Mississippi College on Friday at 11 a.m. ET and then at #24 Auburn Montgomery on Saturday at 12 p.m. ET.