THE LEAD 
The DBU Women's Tennis Team opened Heartland Conference play with a loss to the St. Edward's Hilltoppers, 5-4. Ana Marija Banic went 2-0 on the day winning in line one of singles and doubles play.

In doubles action, DBU claimed two of the three lines played with Ana Marija Banic and Maria Fernandez de Camilo winning line one 9-7 over SEU's Anjali Sampath and Marissa Williams and Liz Slaughter and Amanda Richter claiming line two with a 8-2 win over Valentina Martinez and Elisa Guillen.

Despite the 2-1 lead coming out of doubles play, the Lady Patriots were unable to keep the lead only taking two of the six lines in singles action.

In line one DBU's Banic defeated Sampath of SEU 6-3, 6-2, but the Hilltoppers would take line two and three with Zecevic taking line two 6-3, 6-1 against Slaughter, and Galvan winning over Fernandez 6-3, 7-5.

The Lady Patriots other win in singles play came from Madeline Coffman in line four prevailing 6-2, 6-2 over SEU's Williams.

St. Edward's also went away with lines four and five with Martinez defeating Richter 6-4, 6-1 and Guillen defeating Bianca Tijerina 3-6, 6-2, 6-0.
  
COACH'S QUOTE 
"Overall we were outplayed today. Ana Banic led the way with a doubles and singles win, playing the #1 position on both. Our strength, fight and will to win were tested and we failed the test today; fortunately we have more opportunities ahead." Coach Sarah Gray 

RESULTS
St. Edward's 5, DBU 4

SINGLES
#1 Ana Marija Banic (DBU) def. Anjali Sampath (SEU) 6-3, 6-2
#2 Ivana Zecevic (SEU) def. Liz Slaughter (DBU) 6-3, 6-1
#3 Laura Galvan (SEU) def. Maria Fernandez de Camilo (DBU) 6-3, 7-5
#4 Madeline Coffman (DBU) def. Marissa Williams (SEU) 6-2, 6-2
#5 Valentina Martinez (SEU) def. Amanda Richter (DBU) 6-4, 6-1
#6 Elisa Guillen (SEU) def. Bianca Tijerina (DBU) 3-6, 6-2, 6-0

DOUBLES 
#1 Banic/Fernandez (DBU) def. Sampath/Williams (SEU) 9-7
#2 Slaughter/Richter (DBU) def. Martinez/Guillen (SEU) 8-2
#3 Zecevic/Galvan (SEU) def. Coffman/Tijerina (DBU) 9-7

UP NEXT
The Patriots will face Doane College at the Kiest Tennis Center on Wednesday, March 9. The match is set to begin at 1:00 p.m.