MOUNT VERNON — Splitting the six singles matches wasn't enough for the Central College women's tennis team in a 5-4 loss to Cornell College Friday night after losing two of the three doubles contests.

The loss drops the Dutch to 9-8 on the year while Cornell moves to 12-6.

"I feel like we've lost to them 5-4 every time we've played them," coach Ryun Ferrell said. "We had our chances, but a lot of our team hasn't had many opportunities to really compete this spring. It was far from our best tennis, but I was pleased with how we played."
           
Central picked up wins at No. 1, No. 4 and No. 6 singles. Jenna Stewart (senior, Burlington, Notre Dame HS) took the victory at the top spot with a 6-2, 6-1 win.
           
"She played really well," Ferrell said. "Jenna is a very, physically athletically gifted athlete. She can make it a physical match and that's exactly what she did."
           
Maddie Hartley (freshman, Clarinda) and Macy Scharff (freshman, Oskaloosa) had three-set wins in the No. 4 and No. 6 spots.  Hartley won 6-1, 5-7, 10-7 in the No. 4 spot while Scharff triumphed 3-6, 6-1, 10-8.
           
Of the three doubles pairings, Katie Larson (freshman, Fort Madison) and Sarah Schirm (sophomore, Cedar Rapids, Xavier HS) combined to win Central's only match 8-5 at No. 3.
             
"They are the same no matter where they are in the lineup or who they play against," Ferrell said. "You know exactly what you are going to get from them and today was no different."
           
The first home matches of the spring for the Dutch women will be Saturday against Northwestern College and Morningside College. Central will battle the Red Raiders (2-4) at 9 a.m. and the Mustangs (3-6) at 3 p.m.
           
"I'm just excited to see our ladies compete," Ferrell said. "We are young with a lot of freshmen playing right now. They'll get an opportunity to play and we'll see what they can do."