LANCASTER, Pa. – The Ursinus College women's tennis team gave host Franklin & Marshall a battle on several courts, but the Diplomats proved too much to handle in a 9-0 setback in the Centennial Conference opener for both sides.
Franklin & Marshall, ranked No. 20 in the ITA Atlantic South, swept doubles play and took all but one singles match in straight sets.
Juniors Aileen Bevard and Ashley Nguyen were blanked, 8-0, by Allison Wolters and Nicole Russo at number one doubles, while seniors Robin Alsher and Christine Palazzolo fell by an 8-3 final to Gavriel Rubenstein and Allysan Breece at number three.
Freshman Caitlyn Sorelle and junior Ariel Danziger nearly kept their perfect doubles record intact, but wound up on the short end of a 9-7 thriller with Caitlin Rummelsburg and Sarah Haas in the second flight.
Nguyen put up the best fight in singles play, challenging Haas in a three-setter on the third court. Haas took the first set 6-2 and shook off a 6-0 setback in the second to claim the third-set super tiebreaker by a 10-6 count.
Palazzolo dropped a 6-4, 6-4 decision to Alexandra Collins at number six, but no other Bear won more than five games in individual action.
The women's tennis team hosts Moravian on Sunday, March 26.