HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. -- The Slippery Rock University women's tennis team, ranked 39th in the current Intercollegiate Tennis Association Division II national poll, dropped a hard-fought 4-3 decision Wednesday to Division I Evansville.

SRU (8-3) won two of three doubles matches to pick up the team point awarded under the Division I scoring system utilized for the match before Evansville (6-3) won four of the six singles matches.

The deciding point was won by the Purple Aces in a three-set No. 5 singles duel, which Jessica Raatz defeated Rock senior Jessica Hilborn 1-6, 6-4, 10-6.

The Rock's No. 1 doubles team of senior Laura Handy and sophomore Dunja Drmac won an 8-4 decision, while the No. 2 duo of Hilborn and junior Chelsea Gibson reigned by an 8-5 score.

The final two Rock points came via singles victories by sophomore Sarah Lynch at No. 2 (6-3, 7-5) and Drmac at No. 3 (7-5, 6-2).

The Rock returns to the courts at noon Thursday, when they will take on NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional rival Kutztown in the final match of this year's spring-break trip south.

Results of Wednesday's match included:

DOUBLES
#1 -- Laura Handy / Dunja Drmac (SR) def. Aleksandra Dzakula/Ashton Schwerin 8-4
#2 -- Chelsea Gibson / Jessica Hilborn (SR) def. Pin Sorensen/Jessica Raatz
#3 -- Theadora Kotsiou/Payal Sharma (UE) def. Sarah Lynch / Janelle Krantz 8-6

SINGLES
#1 -- Kotsiou (UE) def. Handy 6-0, 6-1
#2 -- Lynch (SR) def. Schwerin 6-3, 7-5
#3 -- Drmac (SR) def. Sorensen 7-5, 6-2
#4 -- Dzakula (UE) def. Gibson 6-0, 6-0
#5 -- Raatz (UE ) def. Hilborn 1-6, 6-4, 10-6
#6 -- Carolyn Caire (UIE) def. Casey Runyan 6-0, 6-1