The sixth-ranked Denison women's tennis team dropped a 5-1 decision to third-ranked Chicago in the championship match of the 2011 Midwest Invitational on Saturday afternoon in Madison, Wis.

The Big Red gave the Maroons all they could handle in doubles competition.  The team of senior Kristin Cobb and junior Sarah Short, who are playing in just their fifth match as doubles partners, pushed the two-time defending national champs Kendra Higgins and Chrissy Hu to the limit before suffering a 9-7 setback.  At the second flight, sophomore Alex Marcell and rookie Kelsey Geppner dropped a hard fought 8-6 decision to Carmen Vaca Guzman and Linden Li, while Jane Lent and Kate Westenberger also suffered a narrow 8-6 loss to Jennifer Kung and Aswini Krishnan.  In singles action, Westenberger picked up DU's only win after blanking Shanelle Trail in straight sets.

In Saturday's semifinal match, the Big Red knocked off No. 11 Gustavus Adolphus 7-2.  Cobb, ranked third in the central region, recorded a dominating 6-2, 6-1 win over fifth-ranked Sam Frank at first singles, while Geppner and Marcell each logged victories over regionally-ranked opponents at the third and fourth flightsm respectively.  Westenberger claimed an impressive 6-4, 6-1 decision over Mary Roop at No. 5, while rookie Lilianna Broussalian won in straight sets (6-3, 6-4) at the sixth flight.

In doubles play, Denison logged 8-4 wins at both first and third doubles.  Cobb and Short defeated Frank and Megan Gaard, who are ranked fourth in the region, while Lent and Westenberger dispatched Juile Bardenwerper and Heather Annis.

Denison (11-4) returns to North Coast Athletic Conference action on Thursday (April 14) when they travel to Oberlin College.  Match time is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.