MITCH RIPORTELLA | Staff Reporter

The Butler women’s tennis team opened its conference slate a week ago, suffering a 7-0 loss at the hands of Xavier University.

The Musketeers handed the Bulldogs their eighth loss of the year, and extended Butler’s losing streak to four.

The Bulldogs have been shut out in six of their eight loses this year.

The Musketeers (5-2) asserted their dominance early in doubles, defeating Butler’s No. 2 team of freshman Grace Hyde and senior Angelina Qin 8-1, and freshman Jocelyn Koester and sophomore Konstantina Adami in the No. 3 match to secure the point.

Xavier then breezed by Butler in singles completion, winning every match in straight sets.

The women will have a break in their schedule. They will not see action until March 7 vs. DePaul University.

The Blue Devils are 12-1 on the year, with their only loss coming against No. 7 Texas A&M.

Since then, the Blue Devils have won 11 straight, including a 7-0 rout over Georgetown in their first conference game of the season. DePaul has shut out its last five opponents.

Butler’s men’s team improved its record to 7-3 Sunday with a 5-2 win over Indiana-Purdue Indianapolis. The No. 1 doubles team of juniors Billy Weldon and Sam O’Neill won 8-4. The No. 3 team of freshman Alex Woldmoe and junior Tommy Marx also picked up an 8-4 win to secure the doubles point.

Butler stumbled early in the singles competition, as the team lost back-to-back matches in the No. 1 and No. 2 singles spots. The Bulldogs rallied back and swept the Jaguars in the final four matches.

Sophomore Brandon Woods picked up a win in the No. 4 spot and Marx won in the No. 5 spot.

The men will begin conference play on March 8 at DePaul. The Blue Demons are 2-5 on the year, dropping five of their last six matches.