Seventh-ranked Middlebury continued its spring break trip to California, mounting a comeback attempt in singles before falling by a narrow 5-4 score on Monday to Division II Asuza Pacific. The match was contested at the Munson and Bavougian Tennis Complex. The Panthers (2-2), who dropped their second-straight 5-4 decision to a Division II foe, have two days off before returning to action Thursday with a 7:00 p.m. match at #4 Pomona-Pitzer.

The Cougars (9-4) raced out to a 3-0 lead after sweeping the doubles matches. Valeriia Kashina and Jackie Resler started things with an 8-2 win at No. 2 over Alexandra Fields and Skylar Schossberger. Natalie Johnson and Lisa Schneider gave the hosts a 2-0 advantage with an 8-5 victory in the top spot against Katherine Hughes and Christina Puccinelli, while Kara Hinton and Tatiana Betancourt completed the sweep via an 8-5 win at No. 3 over Maddi Stow and Molly Paradies.

In singles, the Panthers claimed the first three matches to finish, tying the score at 3-3. Schossberger posted a 6-2, 6-4 victory at No. 6 over Betancourt, Paradies prevailed 6-2, 6-4 in the fourth spot over Hinton, while Heather Boehm tallied a 7-5, 7-5 triumph at No. 3 over Kashina.

The Cougars clinched the match with a pair of victories at the top of the lineup. Schneider defeated Puccinelli by scores of 7-6 (4), 6-2 at No. 2, while Johnson edged Fields in the top spot 7-5, 6-4. 

The Panthers posted the final point when Hughes and Resler split the first two sets, but Resler retired in the third set with Hughes ahead 4-3 (3-6, 6-2, 4-3).