SURPRISE, Ariz. – The short-handed MSU Denver women's tennis team suffered a 4-0 first-round loss to Academy of Art (Calif.) on Wednesday in the first round of the Pacific West Conference Tournament.
 
The Roadrunners were forced to forfeit at No. 6 singles and in one of the three doubles matches.

"The ladies battled hard today, but unfortunately we had a little too high of a mountain to climb," MSU Denver coach Josh Graetz said. "Hopefully the girls can finish the season with a win tomorrow."
 
MSU Denver (12-9), which had a seven-dual win streak come to an end, was competitive in multiple matches. Isabel Heras and Kayla Myburgh were leading 4-1 at No. 2 doubles, but Academy of Art finished the No. 1 match and – combined with the forfeit at No. 3 – clinched the doubles point.
 
Heras won the first set in No. 1 singles and the score was 6-1, 4-5 when play ended. Marie Cool was headed for a first-set tiebreaker at No. 3 singles when play ended.
 
The 11^th-seeded Roadrunners will play 10^th-seeded Dominican (Calif.) in a consolation dual on Thursday at 6 p.m.