Western Kentucky’s women’s tennis team dropped a 4-3 decision Monday to Ball State at the Adams Tennis Complex in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

WKU (6-3) lost its first match in more than a month as Ball State (10-2) improved to 4-0 all-time against the Lady Toppers.

WKU began the match by dropping the doubles point at the No. 1 and 2 spots. The four-match winning streak of freshmen duo Natalia De Ugarte and Cindy Oest ended against BSU’s Carmen Blanco and Peyton Gollhofer, 6-2. Ball State’s Audrey Berger and Julia Sbircea followed by defeating seniors Andreanna Christopoulou and Elpida Malamou, 6-3, to earn the doubles point.

In singles action, WKU rallied to take the lead with two wins on courts one and four. Freshman Monica Malinen won at the four spot as she downed Isabelle Dohanics 6-1, 6-2. At the No. 1 position, Elpida Malamou won in straight sets 7-5, 6-3 to push her singles winning streak, dating back to last year, to 21 matches. The Cardinals responded with Toni Armond outlasting Oest 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 to tie the match 2-2.

Violetta Shatalova won at the No. 6 spot over Rebecca Herrington 2-6, 6-2, 6-2 to regain the Lady Topper lead 3-2. With the pressure on the Cardinals, Ball State fought back and won the final two matches to claim the victory.

WKU will be back in action Saturday in California as the Lady Toppers play at Santa Clara at 1 p.m. CST for their first match of the spring break trip.