WALLA WALLA, Wash. - In an exciting finale for the Blues at the Whitman Winter Classic, the Whitman College women's tennis team came up just short of victory in a 5-4 loss to Gustavus Adolphus on Sunday at the Bratton Indoor Tennis Center.

The match came down to the result on the No. 5 singles court. Audrey Grigore, looking to atone for her doubles loss earlier in the match, rallied to push the match to a deciding set but came up just shy in a 6-2, 5-7, 6-1 loss to Anna Stutz.

The competition was truly a back-and-forth affair. After the Blues (4-4) doubles team of Andrea Gu and Mary Hill evened the match with an 8-5 win on the No. 1 court, Kattie Pak and Lori Sheng's 8-7 (7-2) third doubles win sent the Blues in front heading to singles play.

The Gusties (5-5) claimed the first two singles wins to retake the lead. Anastasiya Redkina and Andrea Gu fell at the three and one, respectively, as Gustavus took a 3-2 lead. Hill then rallied from a set down to even the match, beating Ginger Valentine on the No. 2 court 4-6, 6-1, 6-3.

Sheng pushed her No. 4 court match to a third set but ultimately fell 6-3, 2-6, 6-1, putting the pressure on Pak to come through with a win which she did. On the No. 6 court, she swept Sheila Sullivan 6-1, 6-3. Grigore would give it her best shot in the deciding match but come up one-set short.

The Blues will have some time off before commencing with their outdoor and Northwest Conference season next month. Whitman hosts Linfield (Mar, 9) and Pacific (Mar. 10) in back-to-back matches to kick off league play.