KANSAS CITY -- The Missouri Valley College men's and women's tennis teams closed out their seasons Friday with first-round losses in the Heart of America Conference Tournament at Kansas City.

The Valley men lost to Baker, 5-2, despite winning two of three doubles tilts to begin the match. The last time the teams met, a 6-3 Wildcat win on March 26, freshmen Lorenz Pestinger and Alonso Marroquin had won at No. 1 doubles. Not this time, but the second and third spots came up with victories by the teams of seniors Miguel Pacheco and Eugenio Huerta and freshman Derek Gillilan and junior Blake Gutierres.

However, Pestinger, Marroquin, Huerta and freshman Diego Malaga were beaten in singles to give Baker the victory. The Wildcats were eliminated by Lindenwood in the semifinal round.

The Lady Vikings were swept by Jewell, 5-0, two days after dropping a 7-2 contest in which sophomore Lindsay Tworek had posted two wins: at No. 6 singles and No. 3 doubles, paired with junior Jayme Pettigrew.

Freshman Altanzul Gombo and junior Nicki Erickson, the former NCMC champion from Marshall, gave a strong challenge at No. 1 doubles before dropping an 8-5 march and Tworek and Pettigrew were beaten by only an 8-4 score -- one of the Lady Cardinals being junior Ann Lewis, Erickson's former teammate with the Lady Owls. Jewell reached the finals before being ousted by Graceland, 5-4.

The Valley men closed the season with a 3-13 overall mark, 1-4 in HAAC matches. Gillilan, a Higginsville product, led the Vikings in singles with an 8-7 record -- mostly in the No. 5 position -- while Huerta and Pacheco's 5-5 record was the team's best.

With a final-week 5-4 win over Lindenwood, the Valley women were 3-11 overall and 1-4 in the HAAC. Freshman Helene Sallas' 7-6 mark at No. 2 was the top singles record, with Sallas and freshman Shruti Bedi going 5-9 at No. 2 doubles.

"I was not pleased with our records, but I could not have been more pleased with the effort and attitude of our players," remarked Vikings coach Ryan Carney. "I really appreciate the opportunity to work with such a great group of kids."