Northwestern College came up short against Central this afternoon, losing 6-3 in a non-conference women's tennis match played in Pella, Iowa.

The Red Raiders are now 4-3 as they head into the GPAC portion of their schedule. Central improves to 9-5. 

Northwestern dropped all three doubles match-ups by close margins, two of them going to a tie-break. The Red Raiders picked wins at No.1, No.2 and No.2 singles, led by freshman Yemisi Ayeni who earned her record to 6-1 with a 6-4, 6-2 win in the top singles' spot. Zoe Holscher improved to 5-2 at No.2 singles with a 7-5, 6-3 win. Another freshman, Emma Van Drie, earned her second win of the season with a 6-4, 3-6, 10-3 win at No. 5. 

Northwestern will open GPAC play at home against Midland on April 3. 

Singles:
No.1 Yemisi Ayeni (6-1) def. Ashley Maley (4-11), 6-4, 6-2
No.2 Zoe Holscher (5-2) def. EmmaGrace Walter (7-9), 7-5, 6-3
No.3 Kendra McGinnis (4-3) lost to Paige Vannausdle (12-8), 2-6, 6-1, 6-0
No.4 McKayla Johnson (0-5) lost to Kari Grindberg (3-0), 6-1, 6-3
No.5 Emma Van Drie (2-4) def. Jenna Stewart (12-6), 6-4, 3-6, 10-3
No.6 Kelly Shortenhaus (3-4) lost to Kirsten Jordan (11-4), 6-4, 6-3

Doubles:
No.1 Ayeni/Holscher (4-3) lost to Maley/Walter (8-9), 9-8 (7-4)
No.2 McGinnis/Van Drie (4-2) lost to Grindberg/Vannausdle (2-1). 9-8 (9-7)
No.3 Johnson/Shortenhaus (1-3) lost to Stewart/Madison Krumm (2-0), 8-6