By MATT DEARMAN

Sports Writer

Tech's tennis team closed out its season on Friday with a 4-2 loss to San Jose State University in the first round of the Western Athletic Conference championships in Houston.

The Techsters finished the year 9-12, after starting the season 1-6.

"It was a really, really close match," Tech interim coach Terrance De Jongh said. "It was tough, and the girls really fought hard."

The Spartans defeated Tech's top two doubles teams 8-4 and 8-5 to win the doubles point.

In singles, Saharai Uriarte won the No. 1 match for Tech with a 6-4, 6-0 score, and Monica Kelly followed by claiming the No. 3 contest with a commanding 6-2, 6-1 performance.

Tech's Holly Ready took the No. 2 pairing to the third set before falling to San Jose's Kathy Van 6-4, 3-6, 4-6. Avril Martinez and Andrea Moncada also dropped the five and six matches to give the Spartans the 4-2 win.

San Jose advanced to the quarterfinal round of the tournament where they were defeated by eventual three-peating champion Fresno State University 4-0.