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Senior Alicia Gallard nearly won the first set of her No. 5 singles match.
Senior Alicia Gallard nearly won the first set of her No. 5 singles match.

Women’s Tennis Suffers Shutout Loss vs. ECC Preseason Favorite, NYIT

WASHINGTON, DC – The University of the District of Columbia women's tennis team was defeated, 8-0 by NYIT on Friday afternoon in its season home opener at UDC Tennis Courts.

The Firebirds, picked to finish 3rd in the preseason East Coast Conference coaches poll, fell to 2-1 overall and 0-1 in league play. NYIT, a NCAA Round of 16 team a year ago and the favorite to three-peat as ECC champions, improved to 3-0 overall – all three wins coming in ECC play.

NYIT started the match up 1-0 due to an insufficient UDC lineup which forced the Firebirds to forfeit the third doubles match. The Bears went on to cruise to 8-0 victories at No. 1 and 2 doubles, respectively.

The two coaches agreed to play just five singles matches with NYIT claiming wins in all five. Senior Alicia Gallard (Business Management – Blaison-Gohier, France/Shorter University) put forth a solid effort at No. 5 singles in a 7-5, 6-1 loss to Melanie Benyadi.  

UDC is back in action tomorrow afternoon vs. ECC foe LIU Post. The match will be played indoors at YMCA Arlington Tennis and Squash Center: 3400 13th St. N, Arlington, VA 22201. Start time is now at 12:30 p.m.