DANBURY, Conn. - The Western Connecticut State University Wolves were beaten, 5-4, by the visiting SUNY Purchase Panthers in women's tennis action this afternoon at Westside Courts.  WestConn falls to 3-2 with its second-straight 5-4 loss in a row, while the Panthers even their season mark at 2-2.  The Wolves remain a home on Friday with a 4 p.m. match against Bard.  Junior doubles partners Melanie Grasso (New Fairfield, Conn.) and Bodhi Kitt (Norwalk, Conn.) remained undefeated in all matches with a doubles win together at the top of the ladder and a pair of singles victories in straight sets between them.

Grasso/Kitt made quick work of their doubles opponents with an 8-2 triumph but the Panthers took two doubles points in competitive matches.  In singles, Kitt took care of SUNY Purchase's Amelia Perlmutter at the No. 1 spot, 6-2, 6-0.  At third singles, Wolves junior Diana Rebelo (Naugatuck, Conn.) and Emma Arnaud each won a 6-1 victory and Rebelo came through with a 6-2 in the deciding third set to put the home team ahead, 3-2.

SUNY Purchase picked up two more singles points, and Grasso battled through a 7-6 win in her first set against Olivia Menchell before taking the second, 6-3.  WestConn junior Brooke Stillman (Brookfield, Conn.) had come back from a 6-1 loss in her first set at fourth doubles and rallied to take the second, 6-4.  Elaine Coppola won the tiebreaker, however, 10-5, just before Grasso's win to clinch the match for the visitors.

"Losing two matches in a row 5-4 is frustrating," said WestConn Head Coach Shawn Stillman.  "It certainly wasn't due to lack of effort by our team, but it does highlight the importance of each court and each match. We need to be sure to maintain our focus from the beginning  and work hard to win every court."