GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Elon women’s tennis team suffered a heartbreaking 4-3 loss to the host Furman Paladins in Southern Conference action at Mickel Tennis Center on Saturday afternoon. In a competitive match from top to bottom, the Phoenix pulled out the doubles point before Furman rebounded to win four singles matches on the strength of Monica Arguello’s 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-4 victory over Anna Milian at number one singles. Elon dropped to 13-7 overall, 4-4 in league play. The Paladins moved to 12-7 on the season and 5-2 in the SoCon.

With the match knotted at three, Milian and Arguello were early in a deciding third set. Milian moved ahead 4-3, before Arguello served to even the score. Arguello broke serve and then went on to win the final game to take the 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-4 result and secure Furman’s fifth conference win of the season.

Elon and Furman split matches at number one and two doubles. Elon’s top duo of Anna Milian and Elisa Simonetti improved to 14-3 on the year with an 8-5 defeat of Arguello and Lauren Kline. Furman evened things up when Jennifer Betts and Jessica Preeg took an 8-3 victory over Paige Kensrue and Lauren Sessoms on court two.

At number three, Furman’s Olivia Maurice and Michele Stanford broke serve to take a 6-4 advantage over Laura Graybill and Briana Berne. Graybill and Berne rebounded, taking the next four games to secure the point for the Phoenix with an 8-6 victory.

In singles competition, Furman evened the score when Betts earned a 6-2, 6-1 win over Graybill on court six. Falling behind 5-2 in the first set on court two, Simonetti turned up the heat against Preeg and won the next five games to take the set 7-5. The sophomore lost only two more games and put Elon up 2-1 with a 7-5, 6-2 decision.

Elon increased its lead when Kensrue turned in a 6-2, 6-2 result over Kline at number two. The Paladins dug in and Susan Bitetti took a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Sessoms on court five. Stanford took a critical 7-6 (4) win in set one and then evened the match score with a 7-6 (4), 6-2 defeat of Berne at number four, forcing the top singles bout to be the deciding match.

Elon has two Southern Conference matches remaining as the Phoenix looks for a bid in the four-team league tournament. The Phoenix will battle Wofford on Sunday at noon.