MONTREAT, N.C. — The Montreat College women's tennis team played a tight, competitive Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) match against the Milligan University Buffaloes on Thursday afternoon. Despite putting together a valiant effort, the Cavaliers landed on the wrong side of a 4-3 final score. As a result, the Cavs moved to 3-10 (2-4 AAC), while the Buffs climbed to 8-4 (3-2 AAC).
 
Milligan secured the doubles point with wins at No. 2 and No. 3. Yamile Cuiza and Ana Marija Horvacki suffered a narrow 6-7 (6-8) defeat in the second flight, while Montreat forfeited the matchup on the third court. Catalina Pan and Clara Roman grabbed an exciting 7-6 (8-6) triumph in the top pairing.
 
The Cavaliers seized the first three singles clashes, putting themselves within arm's length of victory. Roman and Cuiza needed three sets on the first and third courts, respectively. The former claimed a 6-1, 5-7, 7-5 win, while the latter bagged a 2-6, 6-3, 6-1 triumph. Pan won at No. 2, losing just three games across a 6-1, 6-2 match.
 
While the initial three singles bouts went the hosts' way, the final three favored the Buffaloes. Horvacki lost 1-6, 6-7 (4-7) at No. 4, while Kathryn Salazar dropped a pair of 0-6 sets in the fifth flight. Due to forfeiting the sixth singles match, the Cavaliers came up just short as a squad, 4-3.
 
The Montreat College women's tennis team returns to action on Friday, March 27, for another league clash, this time against No. 9 SCAD Atlanta. Doubles action is slated to start at 2 p.m. in Montreat, N.C.