SIUC women’s tennis coach Judy Auld may be ready to pull her hair out the next time her team loses a close match.

The Salukis suffered their fourth 5-4 loss of the season, falling to Tennessee Tech University in the last meet of the weekend in Memphis, Tenn. The Salukis fell to the University of Memphis 3-6 Friday, then rebounded by destroying Belmont University 8-1 before losing to Tennessee Tech.

It is so frustrating, but it is also disappointing because the girls played so well, Auld said. They played with so much emotion. Both teams really wanted the victory.

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The Salukis controlled singles play, winning four of the six matches. The meet was close throughout with seniors Sanem Berksoy and Helen Johnson and freshman Keri Crandall taking their opponents into three sets each.

Berksoy defeated fellow Turkey native Esra Baybuet 7-6, 5-7, 6-3, for the first time ever. The two have competed more than 10 times since their first meeting at age 12, according to Berksoy.

It was always my goal in juniors to beat her because she was the only person ahead of me, Berksoy said. I am happy to finally beat her.

Crandall picked up the victory in her three-set match, while Johnson lost hers.

Leading 4-2 going into doubles competition, SIUC needed one win to claim the victory over Tennessee Tech. All three teams lost, leaving them one match short.

We are playing good doubles, but we are just starting off too slowly, Auld said. If we can start out stronger, we can turn the close losses into wins.

SIUC also lost the opening meet of the weekend to host University of Memphis 6-3.

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The Salukis could only grab two victories in singles play, falling behind 4-2 going into doubles competition. The two victories came from juniors Jennifer Robison (6-2, 6-4) and Maria Villareal (2-6, 6-1, 7-5).

The Salukis needed wins in all three doubles matches to claim the victory. Robison and Villareal combined for the only win for the Salukis in doubles competition.

We played well, Auld said. We just did not take advantage of our opportunities.

SIUC salvaged a win over the weekend by pummeling Belmont University 8-1. The Salukis took advantage of Belmont’s lack of depth winning all six singles matches. Belmont’s top three players were solid but lacked the depth to compete with the rest of the list, Auld said.

Villareal and Robison claimed another victory in doubles play against Belmont’s Keekey Furman and Suzie Rudloff, ending the weekend 2-1. Helen Johnson and Keri Crandall picked up the other victory over Belmont’s Lorena Martinez and Tonya Miller, ending their weekend at 1-2.

We played hard. That is all you can ask for, Auld said. Sometimes they fall your way, and sometimes they don’t.

The Salukis begin Missouri Valley Conference play against Illinois State University Saturday and Indiana State University Sunday in Normal.