ALLEN, Texas -- The LeTourneau women's tennis team opened the spring season on Saturday with a 4-2 loss to former conference foe Howard Payne at Allen High School.

Both teams were shorthanded in the match. Howard Payne (1-5) had four players available, while LeTourneau (0-1) had five due to injury and sport conflict.

LeTourneau took a default point at No. 5 singles. The YellowJackets' other point came at the No. 4 spot where Emmy Phillips outlasted Kendra Werlein in three sets, 3-6, 6-4, 10-7. 

In doubles, Howard Payne took a 1-0 lead. LeTourneau's Maddie Nichol and Chloe Tesser fell 6-0 to Howard Payne's Hannah Lightner and Victoria Ramos at the top flight. Phillips and Anaiah Smith then battled Nina Delafuente and Werlein at the No. 2 spot, but fell 7-5.

Nichol faced off with Lightner at the No. 1 spot in singles and fell 6-3, 6-2. Smith was defeated by Ramos at No. 2, 6-1, 6-4. At No. 3, Tesser dropped her match to Delafuente by a 7-5, 6-4 final.

UP NEXT

LeTourneau opens SCAC play on Friday at Austin College (5:30 p.m.).

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