MASON CITY — For the first time this spring, the Marshalltown girls tennis team battled in a dual that came down to one match.

The Bobcats gained the nail-biting experience, but lost the CIML Iowa Conference dual to Mason City in thrilling fashion, 6-5, on Friday evening.

Mason City (5-4, 1-3) scored its first conference victory by taking a 4-2 advantage through singles play and winning just enough in doubles to capture the dual. Marshalltown (6-3, 2-2) won two of the three matches that advanced to third-set super-tiebreakers, but the host Mohawks were just a bit too strong for the Bobcats.

Nos. 1 and 3 singles players Emily Miller and Madi Finch both moved their records to 6-3 at their respective spots for MHS. Miller defeated Bailey VanDusseldorp 6-2, 6-4, while Finch survived a tiebreaker to beat Lauren Andrews in comeback fashion, 3-6, 6-3, (10-5).

Unfortunately for the Bobcats, the rest of the singles matches went Mason City’s way. Mary Kate Gruening got the first set at No. 2 against Grace Henrich but eventually lost 5-7, 6-2, (10-5).

Miller and Gruening got a straight-set victory at No. 1 doubles, 6-1, 6-4, while Finch and Olivia Brintnall did the same at No. 2, 6-3, 6-1. Mason City captured convincing wins at Nos. 3 and 4 doubles to secure the dual. Marshalltown’s Carly Streets and Stella Roseburrough Borras banked a three-set win at No. 5, prevailing 6-4, 5-7, (10-5).

The Bobcats return to action Tuesday with another road dual at Waukee.

Mason City 6, Marshalltown 5

At Mason City

Singles

Emily Miller (MHS) def. Bailey VanDusseldorp, 6-2, 6-4

Grace Henrich (MC) def. Mary Kate Gruening, 5-7, 6-2, (10-5)

Madi Finch (MHS) def. Lauren Andrews, 3-6, 6-3, (10-5)

Peyton Carpenter (MC) def. Olivia Brintnall, 6-3, 6-1

Eden Lewerke (MC) def. Grace Fisher, 6-0, 6-3

Tiegan Barkema (MC) def. Jillian Lang, 6-1, 6-0

Doubles

Miller and Gruening (MHS) def. VanDusseldorp and Mattie Lee, 6-1, 6-4

Finch and Brintnall (MHS) def. Henrichs and Andrews, 6-3, 6-1

Carpenter and Lewerke (MC) def. Fisher and Lang, 6-0, 6-1

Barkema and Emma Yarahmadi (MC) def. Hel Ter and America Dominguez, 6-1, 6-1

Carly Streets and Stella Roseburrough Borras (MHS) def. Marrisa Pope and Anna Lehman, 6-4, 5-7, (10-5)