KOKOMO, Ind. – The Indiana University Kokomo women's tennis team dropped a pair of matches Friday to in-state foes Bethel and Grace. The Cougars showed grit winning both doubles points, but lost both matches by the same score of 4-3.

Match One Recap

Singles Matches:
1 Singles: Gabbie Orlando (IUK) def. Elizaveta Mikhailova (BU) 6-4, 1-6, 10-7
2 Singles: Alexia Pena (BU) def. Reiley Hiser (IUK) 6-3, 6-0
3 Singles: Kyla Heckaman (BU) def. Larissa O'Rourke (IUK) 6-0, 6-0
4 Singles: Reese Johnson (IUK) def. Layla Jojo (BU) 6-1, 2-6, 10-6
5 Singles: Saige Rinkenberger (BU) def. Maria Oliveria (IUK) 6-3, 6-0
6 Singles: Moana Martins (BU) def. Chloe Schmidt (IUK) 6-3, 6-3

Doubles Matches:
1 Doubles: Larissa O'Rourke/Gabbie Orlando (IUK) def. Elizaveta Mikhailova/Kyla Heckaman (BU) 7-5
2 Doubles: Reese Johnson/Maria Oliveira (IUK) def. Saige Rinkenberger/Layla Jojo (BU) 6-3
3 Doubles: Alexia Pena/Moana Martins (BU) def. Reiley Hiser/Kelsey Rhoades (IUK) 6-2

The Cougars came out of the gates strong, as the #2 doubles duo of Johnson/Oliveira won their match 6-3 and the #1 doubles pairing of Orlando/O'Rourke won a tight match 7-5 to clinch the doubles point for IU Kokomo.

Bethel won matches at #2, #3, and #5 singles handily, to take a 3-1 lead in the match. The Cougars weren't done yet, as seniors Gabbie Orlando and Reese Johnson won their singles matches in three sets to tie the match at 3. Orlando won a third-set tiebreak 10-7 and Johnson won her third-set tiebreak 10-6.

The Pilots would win at #6 singles to take the match 4-3.

Match Two Recap:

Singles Matches:
1 Singles: Graves (GC) def. Gabbie Orlando (IUK), 7-5, 6-2
2 Singles: Ruegsegger (GC) def. Reiley Hiser (IUK), 6-7 (3), 6-2, 10-2
3 Singles: Martin (GC) def. Larissa O'Rourke (IUK), 6-0, 6-2
4 Singles: Reese Johnson (IUK) def. Jarvis (GC), 1-6, 6-2, 10-6
5 Singles: Maria Oliviera (IUK) def. Mast (GC), 6-1, 6-3
6 Singles: Adams (GC) def. Chloe Schmidt (IUK), 6-3, 7-6 (4)

Doubles Matches:

1 Doubles: Orlando/Johnson (IUK) def. Martin/Ruegsegger (GC), 6-2
2 Doubles: Graves/Jarvis (GC) def. O'Rourke/Oliviera (IUK), 6-2
3 Doubles: Hiser/Rhodes (IUK) def. Adams/Mast (GC), 6-4

As they did in the morning match against Bethel, the Cougars were able to take an early 1-0 lead by winning the doubles point. IU Kokomo's #1 doubles duo of Orlando/Johnson won 6-2. Grace won 6-2 at #2 doubles, but the Cougars #3 doubles pairing of Hiser/Rhoades won 6-4 to clinch the point.

Grace won matches at #1 and #3 singles to take a 2-1 lead in the match. Maria Oliveira cruised to a 6-1, 6-3 victory to tie the match at two. Senior Reese Johnson completed an impressive day of play by earning a three-set victory to give IU Kokomo a 3-2 lead.

Freshman Chloe Schmidt dropped a highly-competitive match at #6 singles and Reiley Hiser fell in three-sets at #2 singles to give Grace College a 4-3 win.

The Cougars will be back-in-action next weekend as they travel to Evansville to play in the River States Conference Invite on Friday and Saturday.

For the latest news, updates, and information on the IU Kokomo Cougars, fans can visit IUKCougars.com. Fans can also stay up to date on the latest Cougar news by following @IUKAthletics on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.