PULASKI, Tenn. – The No. 19 Martin Methodist Women's Tennis team continued to hang tough against some of the strongest competition in the NAIA this season during the team's matches over Spring Break last week.

The RedHawks (3-7, 3-2 SSAC) dropped two heartbreaking contests to nationally ranked foes in their two outings on the week.

Despite the losses, the RedHawks own victories over then-No. 15 Mobile (Ala.) and receiving votes Loyola (La.). Four of the RedHawks seven losses this season have come to NCAA Division II foes.

Martin Methodist returns to action on April 6 when they host Blue Mountain (Miss.) in a non-conference matchup at Magazine Road Park. The RedHawks defeated the Toppers by a 5-0 score when they met at the first SSAC roundup of the season on Feb. 16.

No. 20 Cumberland (Tenn.) 6, No. 19 Martin Methodist 3:
On Wednesday, the RedHawks suffered a narrow 6-3 loss to No. 20 Cumberland (Tenn.) University in Lebanon, Tennessee. Cumberland started the match with an 8-3 doubles victory at No. 2 over the RedHawk tandem of Jennifer Wilson and Victoria Parades. The RedHawks evened the match with an 8-4 victory at No. 2. In the deciding doubles point, Brenda Rique and Skylar McDonald suffered a narrow 8-6 loss to Ainhoa Garijo Garrido and Marianela Landi.

Singles play saw the RedHawks claim two more points as Rique defeated Landi, 7-5, 6-2 and Sanchez collected a 6-2, 6-3, victory over Ana Maria Collazos at No. 4. McDonald fell behind 6-1 to #10 Garrido and retired in the second set. The RedHawks battled at No. 3, No. 5 and No. 6 positions but were unable to complete the comeback victory.

No. 13 Middle Georgia State 5, No. 20 Martin Methodist 0:
The weekend saw the RedHawks return to conference play as they battled No. 13 Middle Georgia State in a 5-0 defeat.

The RedHawks squared off against one of the premier players in the nation in #22 Preeti Gokhale at both the No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles. The duo of Brenda Rique and Skylar McDonald nearly knocked off Gokhale and Franziska Nobis in an 8-6 defeat. The RedHawks nearly claimed another point at the No. 3 doubles when Miriam Sanchez and Siria Dibe fell to Jacqueline Heer and Andjela Rajovic, 8-6. Jennifer Wilson and Victoria Parades suffered an 8-1 doubles loss to put the RedHawks down 3-0 after doubles play.

In single's action, the RedHawks suffered losses at both No. 3 and No. 6 singles to fall behind 5-0. The remaining four matches did not finish.