Queens Village, N.Y. - The Adelphi University women's tennis team faced off against the Warriors of Merrimack College on Sunday afternoon in a battle of unbeatean teams in the Northeast-10. Despite taking a 2-1 lead in the match after doubles play, the Panthers fell by a 6-3 score. The Panthers suffer their first conference loss of the year and fall to 7-5 overall and 6-1 in the Northeast-10, while the Warriors improve to 10-3 overall and 9-0 in the conference.

The Panthers and Warriors found themselves deadlocked at 1-1 after second and third doubles; Joanna Haich and Gaby Adia put the Panthers on the board with an 8-1 win at the third spot, but the Warriors responded as Chealsey Giatrelis and Kara Hole upended Jennifer Ferguson and Taylor King, 8-3. With the match finely poised, it was Katarina Barborikova and Charlotte Moreau who came up clutch for they Panthers as they outlasted Grace Messina and Shakee Messina, 9-7, at first doubles to give Adelphi a 9-7 lead. 

As the match moved to singles play, the Warriors reclaimed momentum as Moreau, Haich and King were each unable to win a set from their opponents at first, third and sixth singles. While Barborikova put together a valiant fight back in her second singles match, eventually winning 2-6, 6-1, 10-6, it would not be enough as both Adia and Ferguson came up just short in close, three-set battles to decide the match. After each won the first set, their opponents came back to force deciding sets and would eventually prevail in the third.

Singles
1. Grace Messina (MER) d. Charlotte Moreau (AU) 6-4, 6-1
2. Katarina Barborikova (AU) d. Chealsey Giatrelis (MER) 2-6, 6-1, 10-6
3. Shakee Messina (MER) d. Joanna Haich (AU) 6-1, 6-1
4. Kara Hole (MER) d. Gaby Adia (AU) 6-7, 6-4, 6-1
5. Rachel Muller (MER) d. Jennifer Ferguson (AU) 3-6, 7-6, 6-4
6. Alyx Barnes (MER) d. Taylor King (AU) 6-3, 6-2

Doubles
1. Barborikova/Moreau (AU) d. Messina/Messina (MER) 9-7
2. Giatrelis/Hole (MER) d. Ferguson/King (AU) 8-3
3. Adia/Haich (AU) d. Muller/Barnes (MER) 8-1

Coach's Thoughts on the Match
"This was a tough loss for us today," Head Coach Michael Misiti stated. "We need to move on from this and use the loss as a learning experience for the rest of our season."

Up Next
The Panthers return to action on Saturday, April 5 when they host the Skyhawks of Stonehill College in a 10 am NE-10 match.