ATLANTA – Centre women's tennis nearly came back from a 3-0 doubles hole Saturday at Oglethorpe, but ultimately fell, 5-4, in a meeting of regionally ranked teams.

The Colonels, placed 20th in the latest ITA Regional Rankings, slip to 8-11 overall and 2-4 in the Southern Athletic Association. The 16th-ranked Stormy Petrels move to 10-6 (4-2 SAA).

Oglethorpe jumped out to a sizeable 3-0 lead after sweeping doubles, but Centre bounced back in singles play.

Zena Maddux (Hopkinsville, Ky.) cruised past Halley Sickling, 6-0, 6-2, in the first completed match at No. 6 singles.

Perhaps the signature individual effort came next at No. 1, where Abigail Kent (College Station, Texas) defeated regionally-ranked Caroline Johnson by a wide 6-3, 6-0 margin.

Rookie Caroline Stallings (Clarksville, Md.) earned her 11th singles win of the season with a 6-3, 6-4 decision over Shannon Cruz at No. 3. 

Her doubles partner, Emily Zelichenok (Louisville, Ky.), also picked up a singles win, defeating Taylor Cranford 7-5, 6-2 at No. 4. 

Oglethorpe claimed close three-set matches at singles Nos. 2 and 5, though, clinching the team victory.

Centre closes the regular season Sunday against Berry at 10 a.m.