Seventeenth-ranked Denison suffered a pair of setbacks on the opening day of the Midwest Invitational.  DU fell to No. 22 Wisconsin-Whitewater, 7-2, and dropped a 5-4 decision to 13th-ranked Washington (Mo.).

In the opening match, the Warhawks took a 2-1 leads following doubles competition thanks to wins at the second and third flights.  The Big Red's lone doubles victory came at No. 1 doubles where senior Sarah Short and junior Alex Marcell doubled up Kalla Schaefer and Alexandra Bayliss, 8-4.  In singles play, Marcell posted a dominating straight-set win over Sydney Divelbiss (6-2, 6-2).

Against the Bears, Short and Marcell won their seventh straight and upped their overall record to 12-2 following an 8-5 decision over Kate Klein and Corinne Rauck.  The two nationally-ranked squads split singles play, securing Washington University's one-point win.  Marcell improved to 9-2 at the second singles flight and 11-3 overall after a 6-2, 6-0 win over Klein.

Kate Westenberger and Heather Abzug got back on the winner track with three-set victories at fourth and fifth singles, respectively.  Westenberger defeated Paige Madara (6-4, 3-6, 10-6), while Abzug topped Betsy Edershile (6-0, 4-6, 10-7).

Denison (5-8) closes out the 2012 Midwest Invitational on Saturday.  The Big Red will take on Luther and Kenyon at 8 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. CDT, respectively.