LEBANON, Tenn. – The University of Alabama in Huntsville tennis teams returned to action on Saturday and both teams fell as the ladies dropped a narrow 5-4 decision while the men lost 8-1 at Cumberland University. The ladies fall to 5-9 while the men drop to 3-8 on the year.
 
In doubles action on the women's side, the No. 3 pairing of Amanda Bevis and Kasi McDonald captured the team's first point as the duo won 8-3, but the Lady Chargers could not capture either of the other two points up for grabs and were trailing 2-1 going into singles action.
 
The No. 4-6 positions were strong for UAH in singles play, winning the team's other three points. Adriana Buitrago won from the No. 3 after her opponent retired, while McDonald and Alejandra Pacheco both easily defeated their opponents at the fifth position and sixth position, respectively. McDonald won 6-1, 6-2, and Pacheco was a 6-2, 6-0 winner.
 
The closest match in the other points was at the No. 1 as Melanie Junod fought to keep her match alive after dropping the first set 6-3. She battled in the second set but ultimately fell 7-5.
 
In men's play, the team's lone point came at the No. 3 as Raphael Oliveria won an exciting three-set match. He captured the first 6-2 before falling 3-6 in the second and then took the point with an 11-9 victory in the tiebreaker.
 
The Chargers had several other opportunities to gain points but came up just short including in doubles action where Daniel Canellas and Christopher Kano fell 8-5 at the No. 1, and the pair of Thales Castro and Guillermo Reyes lost 9-8 (5).
 
The teams will return to conference play on Tuesday as they welcome West Alabama to Huntsville for a 2 p.m. match.