The Calvin women's tennis team dropped a 7-2 conference decision to regionally-ranked Kalamazoo College but not without a fight.

After dropping all three of its double matches against a Kalamazoo team that came in ranked 10th in the most recent ITA Central Region Division III rankings, Calvin bunkered in during singles play and put up a rally.

Kalamazoo (12-6 overall, 5-1 MIAA) picked up wins at 3, 4 and 6 singles but Calvin (8-7 overall, 3-2 MIAA) but Calvin battled back with a 7-6, 6-4 win at No. 2 singles by sophomore Ellie Benzel and a 7-6, 5-7, 10-6 win by senior Ali Roode at No. 5 singles. Roode is now 11-4 on the year and 36-15 over the course of her three-year collegiate career.

Senior Megan Visser also stood tall at No. 1 singles, taking the first set from two-time MIAA MVP Sarah Woods before falling 6-7, 6-0, 6-3. The first set win by Visser marked only the third set Woods has dropped this year as she entered Tuesday's match with a singles record of 17-0.

Calvin is now tied for fourth place with Trine in the MIAA standings but head coach Kevin Van Haitsma was not discouraged by his team's effort Tuesday.

"Our team fought very hard against a very strong Kalamazoo College team," said VanHaitsma. "Our two singles wins very great efforts and the rest of our players really gave it their all too. I'm proud of this team. We are continuing to improve as a team and that is very exciting to me as a coach."

Calvin is back in action on Saturday, hosting Olivet at 10 a.m.