The Oglethorpe women's tennis team fell just short in a comeback attempt against Cornell College Tuesday at the Fort Gatlin Recreation Complex in Orlando, Fla., falling 5-4 as they continued their Central Florida spring break trip.

The match began with the singles competition and freshman Caroline Johnson got it off to an excellent start, blitzing her opponent 6-2, 6-2 at the No. 1 position. Sophomore Ingrid Wilcox fell 6-0, 6-2 at No. 4 to tie the dual match, then, junior Marcail McGranahan lost 6-4, 6-2 at No. 3, playing well in the first set but falling just short. Junior MaryAnne Hafen had a tough time at No. 5, coming off of three marathon matches over the previous two days, and lost 6-2, 6-0, putting the Petrels behind 3-1. Katherine Walkerwas locked in a battle at No. 2. With the match in a super-tiebreak to decide the third set, Walker had double match point, up 9-7. However, her opponent took four straight points and the match, 3-6, 6-2, 11-9. The Petrels were in trouble, down 4-1, but freshman Halley Sickling came through to keep them alive headed into doubles with a 6-2, 6-4 win at No. 6.

Down 4-2, the Petrels would need to sweep the three doubles matches to win. Walker/Johnson quickly took the No. 1 match, 8-2, again keeping the Petrels alive. Wilcox/Sickling were locked in a tight match at No. 3 and eventually won 8-6, but at the same time, McGranahan/Hafen losing a series of tight games and eventually fell 8-2, closing the 5-4 victory for Cornell College.

"This was a tough loss, and we certainly had our chances," said Head Coach Peter Howell. "We never gave up, and fought hard. We had a couple of opportunities that might have turned that match our way." 

The Petrels will conclude their stay in Central Florida on Wednesday, when they take on Lake Forest at 1 p.m. at the Lake Cane Tennis Center in Orlando, Fla. After that, they'll have a break of over a week before getting back to action next Sunday against Middle Georgia from the Downing Howell Courts.