Indianapolis, Ind. - A singles rally by the Franklin College women's tennis team fell short in a 5-4 loss to Hanover College in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament championship match on Sunday at the West Indy Racquet Club.

Franklin (14-2) trailed 3-0 after losing all three doubles matches. The tandem of senior Chelsea Howell (West Harrison, Ind./Franklin County) and freshman Rachel Rose (Springboro, Ohio/Springboro) lost 8-6 at No. 2 doubles. Senior Melissa Sanders (Columbus, Ind./Columbus North) and freshman Karen Dringenburg (Seymour, Ind./Seymour) lost a 9-7 decision at No. 1 doubles.

The Grizzlies started swinging the momentum in their favor by winning the first set in four of the six singles matches.

Rose started the singles rally by dropping only three games at No. 5 singles. Sanders followed closely behind with a 7-5, 6-2 triumph at No. 1 singles. Dringenburg squared the match at 3-3 with a 6-1, 6-4 victory on the No. 3 singles court.

Hanover took a 4-3 lead after a straight-set win at No. 4 singles.

However, freshman Holyn Eldridge (Goshen, Ind./Concord) earned a 7-5, 6-4 victory at No. 6 singles to tie the contest at 4-4.

Hanover clinched the title by winning a second-set tiebreaker for the fifth point of the match.

Three of the last four meetings between Franklin and Hanover have been 5-4 contests.