COLUMBUS, OHIO ? Kansas University’s women’s tennis team dropped a 4-3 decision to Maryland in a nonconference match Saturday at Jesse Owens West Recreation Center.

“We came out real strong in doubles, but Maryland was really strong at the top of their lineup,” KU coach Kilmeny Waterman said. “Our competition level was there but we just fell short and tomorrow will be even tougher.”

The Jayhawks opened on a positive note, winning two of the three doubles matches.

The Kansas doubles team of freshman Paige Brown and junior Emily Haylock continued its perfect season, defeating Maryland’s Emily DeCamilla and Marta Jedrzejak, 9-7, at No. 2 doubles.

KU senior Cheryl Mallaiah and freshman Aurelie Bejar defeated Maryland’s Pamela Floro and Chloe Chavardes, 8-4, at No. 3 doubles, but KU sophomore twins Courtney and Kristen Steinbock lost at No. 1 doubles, 8-6.

The singles matches proved decisive as the Jayhawks won just two of six. Brown won at No. 4 singles, topping Jedrzejak, 6-4, 6-4, and Bejar posted a straight-set victory at No. 5 singles over Chavardes, 6-3, 6-2.

Maryland prevailed at No. 1 singles, 6-1, 6-2, over Mallaiah; at No. 2 singles, 6-2, 6-4, against Haylock; at No. 3 singles, 6-3, 6-3, versus Courtney Steinbock; and at No. 6 singles, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, over Christi Wagenaar.

The Jayhawks will remain in Columbus to take on Ohio State at 10 a.m. today.

Maryland 4, Kansas 3

Singles

Delila Cousevic, UM, def. Cheryl Mallaiah, 6-1, 6-2.

Emily Marker, UM, def. Emily Haylock, 6-2, 6-4.

Pamela Floro, UM, def. Courtney Steinbock, 6-3, 6-3.

Paige Brown, KU, def. Marta Jedrzejak, 6-4, 6-4.

Aurelie Bajar, KU, def. Chloe Chavardes, 6-3, 6-2.

Emily DeCamilla, UM, def. Christi Wagenaar, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.

Doubles

Marker/Cousevic, UM, def. C. Steinbock/K. Steinbock, 8-6.

Haylock/Brown, KU, def. DeCamilla/Jedrzejak, 9-7.

Bejar/Mallaiah, KU, def. Floro/Chavardes, 8-4.