The University of South Florida women's tennis team couldn't keep its momentum going from two BIG EAST wins in the last two days, falling 5-2 to No. 18 Tennessee on Wednesday at the USF Varsity Courts. The Bulls drop to 5-9 on the season, but have three wins vs. top-25 opponents.

“This was another tough loss, but another match where we had our chances,” USF head coach Agustin Moreno said. “Tennessee is a very good team, and we will have our chances to come back from this one.”

USF got wins from No. 47 Irene Rehberger in the No. 1 position and No. 70 Janette Bejlkova in the No. 3 spot on Wednesday. Rehberger defeated No. 42  Natalie Pluskota, 6-4, 7-6 (7-2), and Bejlkova took a three-set win over No. 36 Brynn Boren 1-6, 7-6 (8-6), 6-1.

No. 100 Ecaterina Vasenina, who had won nine-straight matches, lost 7-5, 7-5 to Rosalia Alda in the No. 2 spot, and Loreto Alonso Martinez fell in three sets to Kata Szekely, 6-2, 2-6, 6-2.

The Bulls' two freshmen, both big parts of wins earlier in the week, fell as well. Alessandra Bonte dropped her match to Maria Sorbello, 6-2, 7-5 in the No. 5 spot, and Kate Parker had her two-match win streak snapped vs. Millie Nichols, 6-0, 6-0 at the No. 6 position.

USF dropped all three doubles matches to begin the day. No. 46 Bejlkova and Martinez lost their match vs. Pluskota and Nichols, 8-4 in the top spot, while Rehberger and Vasenina fell to Alda and Sorbello, 8-5 at No. 2. In the last doubles match, Parker and Bonte couldn't handle Szekely and Boren, 8-4.

The Bulls travel to Michigan and Ohio State this weekend. USF takes on the Wolverines at 6 p.m. on Friday, and then heads to Ohio State for an 11 a.m. match on Sunday.

Tennessee 5, USF 2
March 16, 2011
USF Varsity Courts

Singles
1.    Irene Rehberger (USF) def.  Natalie Pluskota (UT), 6-4, 7-6 (7-2)
2.    Rosalia Alda (UT) def. Ecaterina Vasenina (USF), 7-5, 7-5
3.    Janette Bejlkova (USF) def. Brynn Boren (UT), 1-6, 7-6 (8-6), 6-1
4.    Kata Szekely (UT) def. Loreto Alonso Martinez (USf),  6-2, 2-6, 6-2
5.    Maria Sorbello (UT) def. Alessandra Bonte (USF), 6-2, 7-5
6.    Millie Nichols (UT) def. Kate Parker (USF), 6-0, 6-0
Order of Finish – 6, 5, 1, 3, 2, 4

Doubles
1.    Pluskota/Nichols (UT) def. Bejlkova/Martinez (USF), 8-4
2.    Alda/Sorbello (UT) def. Rehberger/Vasenina (USF), 8-5
3.    Szekely/Boren (UT) def. Parker/Bonte USF), 8-4
Order of Finish – 3, 1, 2