LAKEVILLE, Minn - The North Central University women's tennis team dropped a close non-conference matchup with Martin Luther College on Tuesday. The women were able to pick up a few key wins but eventually fell 6-3 to the Knights.

Freshman Anne Clarke moved into the top singles spot for the Rams in her second match of her young career. Clarke fell to Anna Hemmelman 6-0, 6-2. Hemmelman was named the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference player of the year in 2018 and is widely regarded as one of the top players in the region.

Maddie Meetz picked up a victory in the second singles spot as she won by retirement over Sophia Birner. Sierra Hunter fell in a close matchup as she lost 2-6, before winning 7-6 in the second set to force a tiebreaker in which she narrowly lost 10-8. Nicole Swanson picked up another win for the Rams in the fifth singles spot as she defeated Dana Pietrzyk in a tie breaker set.

Sierra Hunter and Emily Loop were able to pick up a win in the second doubles spot as Sophia Birner and Ella Loersch retired in both sets after trailing 6-0.

The Rams will be back in action Wednesday, February 27 as they will take on Martin Luther College and Crown College in a UMAC triangular matchup. NCU will take on Martin Luther at 10:00 a.m. and then will square off with Crown College at 1:00 p.m.