BANNER ELK, N.C.— The Montreat women's tennis team traveled northeast to Banner Elk, N.C. Tuesday afternoon for a clash against the Lees-McRae College Bobcats. Squaring off against an NCAA Division II program for the fourth time this season, the Cavaliers suffered a 7-0 defeat and fell to 1-7 on the year.
 
While Montreat lost the doubles point, it was just a pair of tiebreaks away from starting the match on top. Despite forfeiting the third doubles matchup, the Cavs battled valiantly. Chiharu Ito and Ainhoa Ordonez dropped a tight 11-9 tiebreak in the top bout, and Clara Roman and Annika Rojas forced a tiebreak at No. 2 before falling, 7-3.
 
Ito pushed her opponent to the brink in singles play as well. Competing on the No. 2 court, Ito answered her 6-2 opening set defeat with a 7-6 (7-5) second frame. As the match went to a third-set tiebreak, the Shizuoka, Japan native couldn't quite pull off the win. In the end, Ito lost the third frame, 10-4.
 
Ordonez claimed three games in each of her two sets played in the top singles matchup, while Roman bagged three games total at No. 3. Rojas and Ali Zakariasen each won a single game in the first and second sets. The Cavaliers forfeited the sixth singles battle, bringing the final score to 7-0 in favor of Lees-McRae (4-3).
 
Montreat returns to Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) action on Friday when it visits the University of Pikeville Bears. First serve is scheduled for 3 p.m. in Pikeville, Ky.