FLORENCE, S.C. – The University of Montevallo women's tennis team ended its historical season with a 5-1 loss to Lander University in an elimination match in the Peach Belt Conference tournament April 17 at the Dr. Eddie Floyd Florence Tennis Center.

The Falcons, who earned the highest ranking in program history with a No. 9 ranking in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) NCAA Division II Southeast Region rankings, advanced to the Peach Belt Conference tournament for the first time in school history this season. The Falcons won a program-best six matches in Peach Belt Conference play.

Montevallo (9-10) won one doubles match against the Bearcats, who entered the conference tournament ranked No. 40 nationally in the ITA NCAA Division II women's rankings.

Senior Haley Highfield and sophomore Allison Howell earned the lone victory for the Falcons in the final match of the season with a 8-3 win over Marion Courbis and Renata Mello of Lander in the No. 2 doubles match.

Juniors Niki Polcerova and Anais Robert fell to the Bearcats' Carolina Lainez and Cayce Bradley 9-8 in the No. 1 doubles match. Junior Liucija Smaizyte and sophomore Juanita Ossa dropped the No. 3 doubles match against Tiffany Vanhpraseuth and Alyssa Savill of Lander, 8-5.

Smaizyte fell to Lainez 6-0, 6-1 in the No. 2 singles match. Highfield dropped the No. 5 singles match against Savill, 6-0, 6-1.

Howell retired in the No. 4 singles match against Ivanka Mocic of Lander, trailing 7-6, 3-0, which clinched the Bearcats' 5-1 victory.

Polcerova, the Falcons' first All-Peach Belt Conference selection, finished the season ranked No. 11 in the ITA NCAA Division II Southeast Region rankings.