The Houghton Women's Tennis Team dropped a 6-3 contest Friday afternoon to conference opponent Utica. The match was close from start to finish, but the Highlander's could not prevail, moving them to 0-3 in Empire 8 play this season. 

After dropping all three doubles points in close decisions, the Highlanders rebounded well in singles taking three of the six contests. Arija Grant would lead the way with a dominate win on court two, 6-2, 6-1. Freshman Zoe Zachery would pick up her first collegiate win on court four, with the longest match of the afternoon, and an incredible 6-3, 2-6, 10-5 victory. Finally, Kelsi Clapper would round out the evening at the sixth spot taking it in a tight 6-3, 1-6, 10-6 competition. 

"The ladies deserved more from a results standpoint than what we ended up getting here tonight," Coach Zach Shilvock said after the match. "Sometimes tennis can be brutal like that, and unfortunately this is one of those times. I thought all three courts of doubles played solid, but we did not capitalize on our opportunities. That really put us behind on the score sheet and it proved to be too big of a hole to dig ourselves out of. On a positive note, I am so happy for Zoe picking up her first college victory! Every match she has played so far has been close, so i am so excited she was able to get over the hump." 

The Highlanders (0-8) will travel on the road tomorrow to take on Alfred University in another conference matchup at 1:00 PM.