MONTEVALLO, Ala. – The University of Montevallo women's tennis team fell to visiting Young Harris College 8-1 in a marathon Peach Belt Conference match that lasted nearly five hours April 3.

The Falcons (6-8 overall, 2-7 in Peach Belt Conference) battled in the No. 1 doubles' match and No. 2 doubles' match, while also pushing the Mountain Lions to their limits in No. 1 singles' and No. 4 singles' action.

Junior Allison Howell and freshman Grace-Laura Rowe secured the Falcons' lone victory in the No. 2 doubles' match, taking down Maria Puerta and Elin Rundcrantz of Young Harris in a 8-5 win.

The Mountain Lions' Eva Castiglioni and Laura Sanchez outlasted seniors Nikola Polcerova and Anais Robert 9-7 in the No. 1 doubles' match. Seniors Octavia Saunders and Meagan Stevens fell to Kadie Hudgins and Carolina Hernandez of Young Harris 8-1 in the No. 3 doubles' match.

Polcerova, who is ranked No. 5 in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) NCAA Division II Southeast Region singles' rankings, dropped a hard-fought battle against Castiglioni 6-3, 6-4 in No. 1 singles' action.

Robert pushed Laura Sanchez of Young Harris to a tie-breaker in the second set in the No. 4 doubles' match before falling 6-3, 7-6 (7-5). Howell fell to Rundcrantz 6-3, 6-2 in the No. 2 singles' match.

Saunders dropped the No. 5 singles' match against Puerta, 6-2, 6-1. Rowe fell to Hernandez 6-1, 6-0 in the No. 6 singles' match.

Senior Juanita Ossa retired early in the No. 2 singles' match against the Mountain Lions' Aimee Dorley.

The Falcons will return to action Saturday, April 4 with a Peach Belt Conference match against the University of North Georgia.

First serve is set for 11 a.m.