The No. 28 Marshall women's tennis team fell to No. 44 Princeton, losing their first game of the season 5-2.
During the course of the loss, previously undefeated Deanna Bailey lost her singles match, falling 6-3, 6-3 to Ashley Blakley.
The game turned south early as Marshall's doubles team of Michaela Kissell and Dominika Zapranza were shut out 8-0 by Princeton's doubles team, Taylor Marable and Hilary Bartlett. Kara Kucin and Isabell Raich lost a close doubles match against Rachel Sainotz and Blakely, 9-8, which secured Princeton's doubles point.
Deanna Bailey and Thaddea Lock crushed Princeton's third doubles team, Sarah Hoffman and Melissa Sainotz 8-5, although this did not affect the points total.
No. 33 ranked Kissell evened the score with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over No. 70 Bartlett. Princeton won the next four singles matches to pull away from Marshall for good.
The Herd's Catherine Keller was able to take Marable to an overtime set but fell 6-3 in the final set. Raich lost a pair of close matches to Sainotz 7-6, 7-6, and Zapranza fell to Saiontz 6-2, 7-6.
In the sixth set, Kristina Koprcina defeated Hoffman 6-3, 6-3 to give Marshall its second point.
"Princeton played all the bigger points well today," said head coach John Mercer. "They were more consistent all day, but hopefully we can bounce back and get a win on Monday against Virginia."
This was Marshall's first loss after beginning the season on an eleven game winning streak. Princeton won its third straight match over a ranked opponent. Marshall faces Virginia at 2 p.m. Monday at the Huntington Tennis Club.
Patrick Miller can be contacted at miller490@marshall.edu.
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