SAVANNAH, Ga. - The University of Montevallo women's tennis team fell to two-time defending NCAA Division II national champion Armstrong State University 9-0 in a Peach Belt Conference match March 5.

The Falcons (9-2 overall, 1-2 in Peach Belt Conference) showed progress against the Pirates, who are ranked No. 1 in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) NCAA Division II rankings, after winning 14 more games in this year's match than the eight games Montevallo won in the match a year ago.

Sophomore Alina Munteanu dropped the No. 1 singles' match 6-0, 6-0 against the Pirates' Lena Lutzeier, who is ranked No. 11 nationally in the latest ITA NCAA Division II singles' rankings.

Sophomore Emily Beatty fell 6-4, 6-4 in the No. 2 singles' match against Tatjana Stoll of Armstrong State, who is ranked No. 30 nationally in the latest ITA NCAA Division II singles' rankings.

Sophomore Julia Berg dropped the No. 3 singles' match against the Pirates' Paula Boixader Roca 6-1, 6-0. Sophomore Rayne Sinclair fell 6-1, 6-2 in the No. 4 singles' match against Diana Stomlega of Armstrong State, who is ranked No. 13 nationally in the latest ITA NCAA Division II singles' rankings.

Freshman Amanda Gautreaux fell to Tamri Chalaganidze of Armstrong State 6-2, 6-4 in the No. 5 singles' match. Sophomore Lauren Pero dropped the No. 6 singles' match against the Pirates' Alice Patch 6-0, 6-1.

Sophomore Alice Copland and Sinclair dropped the No. 1 doubles' match 8-0 against Lutzeier and Stomlega, who are ranked No. 2 nationally in the latest ITA NCAA Division II doubles' rankings.

Berg and Gautreaux fell to Patch and Chalaganidze 8-2 in the No. 2 doubles' match. Sophomore Allie Whitley and Beatty dropped the No. 3 doubles' match against Stoll and Boixader Roca 8-1.

The Falcons will return to action Monday, March 6 with a neutral site match against Lawrence Tech in Hilton Head, South Carolina.