LYNCHBURG, Va. – Despite sophomore Kate Lee extending a personal singles winning streak, the Navy women's tennis team saw its own win streak end at eight matches on Saturday morning, as the Midshipmen were defeated by Liberty, 5-2, at the Liberty Indoor Tennis Center in Lynchburg, Virginia.
 
With the loss, Navy shifted to 8-3 on the season with a 1-3 road record, while Liberty improved to 8-3 overall this spring.
 
Despite the top Navy pairing of sophomore Emily Tannenbaum and junior Samantha Johns opening doubles play with a 6-1 win over Maria Juliana Parra Romero and Alexandra Almborg, the Flames fought back with Tiffany Nguyen and Meretha Burger grabbing a 6-3 victory over the Mids' senior Casey Accola and freshman Sia Chaudry on the No. 2 court. Liberty clinched the doubles point on the third court, as Esther Lovato and Marina Davtyan beat Lee and fellow sophomore Parvathi Shanker by a 6-2 score.
 
Navy tied the match at 1-1 when Lee grabbed the first singles win of the day, scoring a 6-1, 6-0 victory on the No. 6 court against Bruna Sampaio, but Liberty responded with Parra Romero's 6-2, 6-1 win over Tannenbaum on the top court.
 
The Flames locked up the team victory shortly after, as Lovato notched a 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 win against junior Stella Ribaudo in the No. 2 showdown, while Davtyan defeated Shanker at the No. 4 spot via a 7-5, 6-3 final.
 
Playing out the last two singles matches, Nguyen outlasted Chaudry in three sets for a 3-6, 7-6 (7-3), 10-7 victory at the No. 2 position, while Navy got its second singles win of the morning when sophomore Sylvia Eklund beat Burger in a 1-6, 6-2, 6-4 battle on the fifth court.
 
With her singles victory, Lee has now won seven straight singles matches, including a 6-0 mark this spring.
 
Navy is now 0-3 all-time against Liberty.
 
Up Next
Navy returns home on Sunday, Feb. 26 for a 10 a.m. match against Howard at the Tose Family Tennis Center.