SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The University of San Francisco women's tennis team fell in its first duel match of the season on Saturday, January 18 to UC Santa Barbara, 2-5.

"The Dons lost a hard fought match," said head coach Peter Bartlett. "We have some things to work on for the next couple of weeks, but our team showed great support for each other which was one of our goals. I was pleased with the players attitudes and fight. In the end, this will benefit us greatly."

The Dons were off to a tough start in doubles after pairs Emily Maxfield and Mya Bui, and Rita Colyer and Arianna Capogrosso dropped their sets 0-6. Chiho Mushika and Alicia Yue put up a good fight on their court, but the Dons duo fell 5-7 and the doubles point went to UCSB.

The Gauchos were already up 3-0 in singles after Yue and Bui fell on their courts 1-6, 2-6 and 1-6, 1-6, respectively. Mushika gave the Dons their first point of the day with a 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 match win. With three sets left, Colyer had fallen 6-1, 1-6, 4-6 while Maxfield took down her opponent 2-6, 6-2, 7-5. Bui was the last Don left, but ultimately she fell 1-6, 1-6.

RESULTS
Doubles (order of finish: 1,2,3)
1. Amit Lev Ari and Elizaveta Volodko def. Maxfield and Bui; 6-0 
2. Anastasia Goncharova and Dominika Paterova def. Colyer and Capogrosso; 6-0
3. Shakhnoza Khatamova and Tiffany Lagarde def. Mushika and Yue; 7-5

Singles (order of finish: 6,1,5,3*,2,4)
1. Lev Ari def. Bui; 6-1, 6-1
2. Maxfield def. Paterova; 2-6, 6-2, 7-5
3. Volodko def. Colyer; 1-6, 6-1, 6-4
4. Lagarde def. Capogrosso; 3-6, 6-1, 6-4
5. Mushika def. Khatamova; 1-6, 6-3, 6-4
6. Juliana Valero def. Yue; 6-1, 6-2

UP NEXT
The Dons are back in action next Saturday, February 1 for another road matchup against Sacramento State. First serve is set for 1 p.m. PT.

Make sure to follow the Dons on social media @usfdonswtennis for updates and more news.