KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The SBU women's tennis team was upset in the first round of the MIAA Championship Tournament, falling to sixth-seeded Emporia State 5-4. The third-seeded Bearcats trailed 2-1 following the doubles matches with the Hornets before splitting the singles competition.

In doubles play, SBU got a win at number three with Jenna Hendrickson and Crystal Guiot earning an 8-6 win. Singles play saw SBU get wins from #1 Jolee Cook (6-2, 6-2), #3 Faiga Schmidt (6-7 (5), 6-0, 6-2) and #4 Hendrickson also in three sets (5-7, 6-4, 6-4).

Due to rainy weather, the first round matches were moved indoors from the Plaza Tennis Center to the Clayview Country Club. The semifinals were also moved to the St. Joseph Tennis and Swim Club and the consolation matches were cancelled.

The loss essentially ends the season for the SBU women. Qualifiers for the NCAA Tournament South Central Region will be announced on Wednesday, April 28, but SBU was not ranked in the most recent ITA regional rankings and likely will not receive an NCAA berth.

If they don't receive a berth, SBU seniors Jolee Cook and Johanna Olsson end their successful SBU careers having played at the top two spots in singles the last two years. Both players were also members of the 2008 MIAA champion team, the first ever MIAA title for any women's sport at SBU.

Emporia State University 5, Southwest Baptist University 4
4/24/2010 at Kansas City, Mo.

Singles competition
1. Cook, Jolee (SBU-W) def. Lorren,Talena (ESU) 6-2, 6-2
2. Morris,Amanda (ESU) def. Olsson, Johanna (SBU-W) 6-1, 6-2
3. Schmidt, Faiga (SBU-W) def. Barger,Michelle (ESU) 6-7 (10-5), 6-0, 6-2
4. Hendrickson, Jenna (SBU-W) def. Huston,Emily (ESU) 5-7, 6-4, 6-4
5. Ford,Kirsten (ESU) def. Sentlinger, Sarah (SBU-W) 6-3, 6-2
6. Crowe,Alex (ESU) def. Janisch, Misti (SBU-W) 6-1, 6-2

Doubles competition
1. Morris,Amanda/Barger,Michelle (ESU) def. Cook, Jolee/Schmidt, Faiga (SBU-W) 8-6
2. Lorren,Talena/Crowe,Alex (ESU) def. Olsson, Johanna/Sentlinger, Sarah (SBU-W) 8-1
3. Hendrickson, Jenna/Guiot, Crystal (SBU-W) def. Huston,Emily/Ford,Kirsten (ESU) 8-6

Match Notes
Emporia State University 11-6
Southwest Baptist University 10-7
MIAA Women's Championship Tournament - First Round
SBU #3 seed, ESU #6 seed