AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken women's tennis team lost a hard-fought 5-1 contest to No. 21 Wingate Thursday afternoon.

The Pacers are now 9-7 on the season.

Head coach Steve Dahm's team fell behind 3-0 after doubles action, but pushed the nationally-ranked team in every match.

At No. 1 doubles, Teresa Franco Dias and Olivera Veskovac dropped an 8-5 decision. Kayla Calvert and Victoria Giannaccini, playing at No. 2, lost by an identical score. Elena Bompieri and Alice Neves fell by an 8-3 count at No. 3.

In singles action, Bompieri registered a solid 6-0, 6-2 victory at the No. 2 slot. However, it was not enough. Calvert lost a 6-3, 6-1 decision at No. 1. Karina Blas suffered a  6-3, 6-4 defeat at No. 3 singles.

The No. 4 and No. 5 matches went unfinished and No. 6 singles did not start since the Bulldogs clinched the match.

The Pacers return to action tomorrow morning when they host Salem International at 9 a.m.