ORANGE CITY, Iowa – College of Saint Mary battled back in singles after a rough start in doubles, but settled for a 5-2 loss to Northwestern College Tuesday in a Great Plains Athletic Conference tennis dual.

"We had a slow start today, with a disappointing doubles showing,'' CSM Coach Mike Johnson said. "We gained a little momentum in singles.''

At No. 1 singles, Pietra Ferreira of Northwestern downed Iyaanah Pardiwalla 6-2, 6-2. At No. 3 singles, Carolyna Truong of CSM beat Ainslie Robinson 6-4, 6-3, and at No. 4 singles, Miranda Swanson of CSM defeated Hannah Beckloff 6-2, 7-6 (2).

At that point, the Flames trailed 3-2 in the match with two singles matches remaining on the courts.

"Yana (Gupta) battled back into a full third set, but ultimately lost, just prior to Darece (Van Auken) losing at No. 5,'' Johnson said.

The final scores were Julia VandenBerg of Northwestern outlasting Gupta 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 at No. 2, and Emily Westenberg of Northwestern defeating Van Auken 6-2, 6-3 at No. 5.

At No. 1 doubles, VandenBerg and Ferreira blanked Pardiwalla and Gupta, 6-0. At No. 2 doubles, Robinson and Westenberg handled Swanson and Truong, 6-1.

"After three matches in four days, we are looking for some practice and a moment away from competition,'' Johnson said.

CSM will be back on the courts Monday in Sioux City with a 3 p.m. GPAC match against Morningside University.