SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Evangel women's tennis team dropped a 5-2 decision to Heart/AMC foe Missouri Valley Saturday afternoon at Cooper Tennis Complex.

No. 23 MVC claimed the doubles competition with wins by the duos of Nicoel Straznicky/Myrian Alegre (6-1) and Mar Palomeque/Paola Vargas (6-2).

The same quartet picked up singles wins for the Vikings as well, with Straznicky edging Ana Bjelica (6-3, 7-5), Alegre claiming a narrow three-set decision over Abigail Chaney (6-3, 0-6, 6-2), Vargas besting Carly McAtee (6-3, 6-2) and Palomeque topping Bethany Overturf (6-2, 6-2) to clinch the match for MVC.

EU's lone head-to-head singles victory came from Neely Bridges, who battled back from a first-set loss to take down Maria Lopez (3-6, 6-4, 10-7).

Evangel Doubles Results
Nicole Straznicky/Myrian Alegre (MVC) def. Abigail Chaney/Carly McAtee (EU), 6-1
Mar Palomeque/Paola Vargas (MVC) def. Ana Bjelica/Courtney Yates (EU), 6-2

Evangel Singles Results
Nicole Straznicky (MVC) def. Ana Bjelica (EU), 6-3, 7-5
Myrian Alegre (MVC) def. Abigail Chaney (EU), 6-3, 0-6, 6-2
Paola Vargas (MVC) def. Carly McAtee (EU), 6-2, 6-2
Mar Palomeque (MVC) def. Bethany Overturf (EU), 6-3, 6-2
Neely Bridges (EU) def. Maria Lopez (MVC), 3-6, 6-4, 10-7
Karson Phipps (EU) wins via walkover

Up Next
The Crusaders will meet Grand View next Saturday (March 27) for a 1 p.m. matchup in Marshall, Mo.

For the latest information on Evangel Athletics, follow the Crusaders on Facebook at Facebook.com/EUAthletics, Twitter (@EUAthletics), or visit EvangelAthletics.com. Fans can also receive updates on the team by downloading the new Evangel Crusaders GamedayApp through Google Play. 

—EvangelAthletics.com—