BOX SCORE

The Benedictine University tennis team was unable to come out on top in a close match on Wednesday, falling 5-4 on the road against Northern Athletics Conference foe Aurora University.

With the doubles matches being played first, Benedictine (5-6, 5-4) was able to take a 2-1 lead by winning doubles matches two and three. Kam Haifleigh and Vivianna Iway won the second doubles match 8-1, while Anna Savio and Antoinette Goyao won the third doubles match 8-3.

The number five and number six singles matches were played first to start the singles round, and the Eagles were able to maintain a 3-2 match lead with Goyao winning from the fifth singles slot. Haifleigh would then increase Benedictine's lead to 4-2 by winning in the fourth singles slot.

However, the Spartans (7-3, 6-2) would mount a comeback, winning in the third and first singles slots to even up the match at 4-4. In the decisive second singles match, Aurora's Christy Savellano was able to defeat Bhavana Movva to give the Spartans a match victory.

Despite the loss, the Eagles felt they left it all out on the court.

“It was a battle,” said Savio of the close match. “Even though we lost, we still fought and played our hardest.”

The match took place at Washington Middle School in Aurora. Benedictine will take the court next on Saturday with a pair of NAC road matches: at Rockford at 10:00 a.m. and at Edgewood at 2:00 p.m.