TOWSON, Md. - The Towson University women's tennis team fell in its spring season opener to Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) foe James Madison University on Saturday night in Annapolis, Md. Towson won the doubles point but it was not enough as the Dukes earned five of the six singles victories to finish with a 5-2 score over the Tigers.

"Itwas a tough loss for us but we will build on this," Head Coach Doug Neagle said. "Our girls showed the coaching staff a lot in the match. We had five freshmen competing in their first CAA match against a strong James Madison team."

The Tigers won two of the three doubles matches to grab the doubles point against the Dukes. Nicole Shakhnazarova and Lucy Williams partnered to defeat James Madison's Sarah Khan and Rebecca Harris, 6-4. A.J. Gomer and Renate van Oorschodt combined for a win over Jame's Madison's Dylan Owens and Emily Bradshaw, 6-3.

In singles play, Shakhnazarova earned the only Towson singles point with a strong comeback against James Madison's Khan. She lost the first set 6-1 but won the second set 6-4 and then the tiebreaker 6-4.

"Nicole came charging back to beat a very serious player," Neagle said.

Williams had a tough loss against the Dukes' Nelson. She won the first set by a tight 7-6(4) margin before giving up the second set 7-6(4) and dropping the tiebreaker set, 10-6.

In her collegiate debut, van Oorschodt fell to James Madison's Harris by a score of 6-4, 6-4.

"This was Renate's first collegiate match and she fought so hard," Neagle said.

Towson, now 1-1 and 0-1 in CAA play, will be back in action on Saturday, Jan. 31 at George Washington in a match beginning at 9 a.m.

Meet Results

Doubles Play:
TU's Nicole Shakhnazarova and Lucy Williams def. JMU's Sarah Khan and Rebecca Harris 6-4.
JMU's Taylor Pinchoff and Rachel Nelson def. TU's Cailey Easdale and Barbora Vasilkova 6-1.
TU's A.J. Gomer and Renate van Oorschodt def. JMU's Dylan Owens and Emily Bradshaw 6-3.

Singles Play:
JMU's Taylor Pinchoff def. TU's Sophie Lesage  6-4, 6-1.
JMU's Rachel Nelson def. TU's Lucy Williams  7-6(4), 6-7(4), 10-6.
TU's Nicole Shakhnazarova def. JMU's Sarah Khan 1-6, 6-4, 6-4.
JMU's Dylan Owens def. TU's A.J. Gomer 6-2, 6-1.
JMU's Kimmy Herrock def. TU's Barbora Vasilkova 6-3, 6-2.
JMU's Rebecca Harris def. TU's Renate van Oorschodt 6-4, 6-4.