TOWSON, Md. - Towson University women's tennis senior Renate van Oorschodt earned the Tigers' lone point at No. 5 singles as they opened Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) play with a 6-1 loss against James Madison Friday night at Coppermine Raquet and Fitness.

"We did play and compete better overall as a team, but fell short of where we wanted to be," said head coach Jamie Peterson. "Credit to James Madison, they are always tough. Their record speaks for itself. Tonight for Towson, our two wins exemplify how we need to play."

The doubles team of senior Lucy Williams and junior Yevgeniya Shusterman picked up a 7-5 win at No. 1 singles, but the Dukes had already secured the point with wins at No. 2 and No. 3.

van Oorschodt's match at No. 5 singles was tied in a third-set tiebreaker before JMU's Diane Flament had to retire due to injury. After van Oorschodt lost the first set 6-2, she came back to win the second by the same score before the third set was even at 6-6 with van Oorschodt leading 5-1 in the tiebreaker.

"Renate van Oorschodt exemplified everything a coach could ask for in a player," added Peterson. "Mentally and physically tough, competed with good positive emotion and played smart, tactical tennis. A great win by a quiet leader. Lucy Williams and Jane Shusterman played top notch, high level doubles."

Doubles (order of finish: 3, 2, 1)
No. 1 - Lucy Williams/Yevgeniya Shusterman def. Norman/Flament 7-5
No. 2 - Makarova/Petersen def. Renate van Oorschodt/Barbora Vasilkova 6-2
No. 3 - Roka/Owens def. Lucy Gloninger/Alexa Martinez 6-2

Singles (order of finish: 3, 2, 4, 6, 1, 5)
No. 1 - Jona Roka def. Nicole Shakhnazarova 7-5, 3-6, 10-6
No. 2 - Liz Norman def. Lucy Williams 6-3, 6-3
No. 3 - Anna Makarova def. Yevgeniya Shusterman 6-1, 6-4
No. 4 - Emma Peterson def. Barbora Vasilkova 7-5, 6-0
No. 5 - Renate van Oorschodt def. Diane Flament 6-2, 2-6, 6-6 ret.
No. 6 - Kimmy Herrock def. Alexa Martinez 7-6 (6), 6-2
 
Up Next for Towson
The Tigers have a 16-day layoff before returning to action on Monday, March 19 against Denison in Orlando, Florida.