AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken women's tennis team lost a hard-fought 7-2 contest to No. 37 Francis Marion Saturday afternoon.

The Pacers are now 8-9 overall, including a 3-8 record in league play.

Head coach Steve Dahm's team fell behind 3-0 after doubles action. The No. 3 seed of Nadine Tusiama and Victoria Giannaccini dropped a nail-biting 9-8 decision. Top-seeded Olivera Veskovac and Marie Habiyaremye fell by an 8-2 count. The dyad of Kayla Calvert and Brigitta Mirak fell by an 8-4 score.

 At the No. 2 slot, Veskovac posted a 6-4, 6-3 victory in singles action. Giannaccini tallied a 6-3, 7-6 win at the No. 5 position.

Mirak forced extra points in the first set at No. 3, but eventually fell by a 7-5, 6-0 decision. Calvert nearly forced a third set at No. 4. She fell by a 6-1 score in the opening stanza, but pushed her opponent to the brink in the second frame. However, she lost a 7-6 decision.

Giannaccini also forced extra points at the No. 5 position, but lost a 6-3, 7-6 contest. At the No. 6 slot,

Habiyaremye dropped a nail-biter at the No. 6 spot by scores of 2-6, 6-3, 8-10.

The Pacers return to action Saturday, Apr. 15, when they play at Montevallo. The match is slated to start at 12 p.m.