The Oglethorpe women's tennis team suffered a tough 6-3 loss Saturday afternoon against fellow regionally-ranked side Birmingham-Southern in their SAA opener at the Howell Courts. The loss dropped the Stormy Petrels to 6-2 overall and 0-1 in SAA play.

The doubles competition proved pivotal, with Birmingham-Southern taking two of the three matchups. Senior Delaney Abood and sophomore Lisette Phillips fell 8-3 on the three line after falling behind 6-1 to start the match. The Petrels answered with a victory from the No. 2 tandem of senior Charlotte Disley and junior Elizabeth Bielicki, as they knocked off their opponents 8-6. The top-line tandem of junior Hannah Dattilo and senior Shannon Cruz went ahead 7-4, but saw their opponents come back to force a tiebreak and win the extra frame 7-4, putting the visitors ahead going into singles.

The Petrels got a point from the No. 1 singles match when Dattilo's oponent retired with an injury after the Petrel won the first set 6-4. However, Disley lost at No. 3 to put Birmingham-Southern up 3-2. Bielicki fell on the five line, as well, bringing the Panthers to the brink of clinching the dual match. Phillips won the No. 6 match 6-4, 6-3 to keep the Petrels a live at 4-3, but neither Cruz nor Abood were able to hang onto leads which could've forced third sets and Birmingham-Southern won 6-3.

Oglethorpe takes on Millsaps Sunday from the Howell Courts at 1 p.m.