PORTSMOUTH, Ohio (Tennis) – The Shawnee State tennis team fell in the season-opener and Mid-South Conference premier – losing, 9-0, at the hands of the University of the Cumberlands on Friday afternoon at the Dr. William E. Daehler Tennis Center.

The Bears fell in three-straight doubles matches to open the day, beginning at the No. 1 position, when Isabella Dale and Erin Hard defeated Shelbie Wulfekamp (SR/Maysville, Ky.) and Brianna Boggs (SO/Wheelersburg, Ohio), 8-1.

Emily Waugh (FR/Wheelersburg, Ohio) and Nicole Harmon (FR/Shelby, Ohio) also lost in the second slot, as Sydni Grime and Chane Williams edged out the duo, 8-1. Haley Owens and Marie Bozeman handed UC the 3-0 advantage with an 8-0 win over Kendi Kistler (FR/Chillicothe, Ohio) and Kanessa Snyder (FR/Gallipolis, Ohio) in the No. 3 position.

Harmon provided the toughest test for the Patriots at No. 4 singles, taking five games before ultimately being defeated by Haley Owens, 8-5. Waugh picked up three games as well at No. 3 in an 8-3 defeat to Kaylyn Collette.

Playing at No. 1 and No. 2 singles, Wulfekamp and Boggs each went down, 6-0, 6-0, as did Mara McGee (FR/Baltimore, Ohio) in the sixth position to Hannah Alimajstorovic. Kistler picked up a game in No. 5 singles, losing 6-0, 6-1, to Victoria Sissoms.

The Bears are facing a stretch of five matches in six days, including a pair of bouts versus ranked opponents, all inside Mid-South Conference play. SSU squares off against Campbellsville University on the road Saturday, beginning at 3 p.m.