MARSHALL, Texas – In their first home match of the year, East Texas Baptist University came up short in a 5-4 loss to McMurry University. ETBU is now 1-2 overall.
 
ETBU started out doubles play in women's tennis with a 2-1 lead. Javde Childress and Gabbi Hammerbach won, 8-2, over Hope Turner and Bridgette Fly at #1. Faith Kirk and Andrea Alvarez then won, 8-2, at #2. It came down to #3 doubles as McMurry's Andrea Smith and Emily Nuttall won the tiebreaker, 10-4, for an 8-7 win.
 
In singles play, Hammerbach took the #1 match, 6-1, 6-1, over Turner. Childress then won #2 singles, 6-1, 6-2, vs. Hannah DeFriend. Another close match in singles came at #4 as Isabelle Duarte fell 6-4, 7-6.
 
ETBU will travel to Belton, Texas, on Friday, Feb. 18, to face Mary Hardin-Baylor.