MADISON, Wis. -- The 30th-ranked Denison women's tennis team went 1-1 on the opening day of the 2017 Midwest Invitational on Friday at the Cherokee Country Club. DU clipped Augustana, 5-4, before dropping a 7-2 decision to #19 Case Western Reserve.

Down a point after doubles play, the Big Red won four of the six singles flights to pull off a come-from-behind win over the Vikings. Sophomore Lauren Hawley, who is currently ranked fourth in the central region, defeated 15th-ranked Lauren Goggin in straight sets 6-4, 6-1. Hawley's doubles partner, Emma Alsup, battled back from a set down to defeat Dana Goggin at the second flight. Alsup suffered a 6-0 loss in the opening set before taking the next two via 6-3, 10-2 scores. Both Hawley and Alsup secured their fifth-straight singles wins.

DU also picked up singles victories at the fifth and sixth flights. Junior Carol Vitellas knocked off Vicki Andonova 6-1, 6-2, while senior Olivia Underwood was a 6-1, 6-3 winner over Madeline Lombardi. Vitellas' win was her fifth straight and first and No. 5 singles this season. Hawley and Alsup, who entered the match ranked second in the region, earned an 8-5 victory over Dana Goggin and Caitlyn Schaffer for their fifth-straight win.

Against the Spartans, Hawley and Alsup picked up their sixth-straight win as a doubles team as they defeated Nithya Kanagasegar and Jessica Liu, 8-5. Alsup picked up the Big Red's other point at second singles with a three-set win over Liu. After falling 6-3 in the first set, the sophomore won the next two via 6-2 and 10-7 scores.

Denison (6-8) will close out play at the Midwest Invitational on Saturday in Madison, Wis.