PELLA, Iowa – The Loras College women's tennis team pulled off an upset against No. 3 seed Central College in a tightly contested quarterfinal match Tuesday afternoon.

In doubles play, the Duhawks' top duo, Dorothy Deans and Mary Breitbach, fell to Jenna Mitsuko Mahoney and Becca Vala, 1-6. Loras earned its lone doubles victory at the No. 2 spot, where Leia Papanicholas and Ellie Kalina defeated Lauren Gano and Emma Murphy, 6-3. Central claimed the final doubles match, as Madi Whalen and Keleigh Hall defeated Alexis Tatum and Caroline Hutchinson, 6-4. Loras trailed 0-1 heading into singles play.

In singles action, Tatum was defeated by Emily Blom at No. 6, 1-6, 0-6. Kalina responded for the Duhawks with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Murphy at No. 5. Papanicholas fell to Vala, 3-6, 0-6, at the No. 3 spot. Hutchinson earned a hard-fought win at No. 4, defeating Gano, 7-6 (2-2), 6-3.
The final two matches proved decisive. Deans overcame Whalen in straight tiebreak sets at No. 2, 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-5). Breitbach then clinched the victory for Loras at the top spot, outlasting Mahoney in a three-set battle, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4.

Up next: Loras will travel to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to face No. 2 seed Coe College in the American Rivers Conference Tournament Semifinals. First serve is scheduled for Thursday, April 24, at 4 p.m.