FREDERICKSBURG, Va. — The Towson University tennis team dropped a close decision to Mary Washington in its season opener on Thursday afternoon, 4-3.  

After dropping the doubles point, the four-hour match came down to the last three singles matches which were all decided in a third set.  

"This was a very tough loss to take," head coach Jamie Peterson said. "The margins were very small, and we just didn't play well enough in the doubles or in some tight matches when we needed it. The girls gave a great team-wide effort but just a bit short. We have to let this loss motivate us and clear our minds." 

Doubles  

The pair of Sissi Axelsson and Themis Haliou took care of business on court one with the 8-5 win. They defeated the No. 9 Atlantic South Regional duo of Abby Moghtader and Lauren Quinn.  

The Tigers were not as successful on the second and third courts as Amelia Lawson and Lea Kosanovic fell 8-2 and Jessica Assenmacher and Antonia Lawson were bested, 8-4.  

Singles  

Haliou dropped a tough match in three sets to Moghtader at the No. 1 spot in the lineup, 4-6, 4-6, 6-1. Amelia Lawson followed up with a solid win on the second court over Coleman 6-2, 6-0. Sarah Pospischill then fell on the third court, 6-3, 7-5, to Quinn. After the first three singles matches the Eagles took the 3-1 edge.  

With the match on the line, Assenmacher (2-6, 6-3, 6-4) and Axelsson (6-0, 4-6, 7-5) won their matches in three set thrillers to tie the score up, 3-3.  

The match came down to the sixth court between Olivia Rothfeld and Beckner. Rothfeld fell in a third set super tiebreak as Beckner emerged with the 5-7, 6-2, 7-6 (7-4) victory to give Mary Washington the 4-3 win.  

Doubles Results:  
No. 1. – Themis Haliou/Sissi Axelsson (Towson) def. Abby Moghtader/Lauren Quinn (Mary Washington) 8-5 
No. 2. – Claire Coleman/Amanda Hagino (Mary Washington) def. Amelia Lawson/Lea Kosanovic (Towson) 8-2 
No. 3. – Emily Beckner/Hana Kimmey (Mary Washington) def. Jessica Assenmacher/Antonia Lawson (Towson) 8-4 
  
Singles Results:  
No. 1 – Abby Moghtader (Mary Washington) def. Themis Haliou (Towson) 4-6, 4-6, 6-1 
No. 2 – Amelia Lawson (Towson) def. Claire Coleman (Mary Washington) 6-2, 6-0 
No. 3 – Lauren Quinn (Mary Washington) def. Sarah Pospischill (Towson) 6-3, 7-5 
No. 4 – Jessica Assenmacher (Towson) def. Amanda Hagino (Mary Washington) 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 
No. 5 – Sissi Axelsson (Towson) def. Hana Kimmey (Mary Washington) 6-0, 4-6, 7-5 
No. 6 – Emily Beckner (Mary Washington) def. Olivia Rothfeld (Towson) 5-7, 6-2, 7-6 (7-4) 
  
Next Match 

Towson will look to rally against Richmond tomorrow, Feb. 11 at 11 a.m.