The Dillard Women’s Tennis Team Falls In Season Opener to No. 3 Xavier University of Louisiana, 5-2, on Thursday

New Orleans – The Dillard University women's tennis team (0-1) put up a strong fight in falling to No. 3 Xavier University of Louisiana (1-2) by a 5-2 score on Thursday afternoon, Feb. 10, at XULA's Tennis Center.

"I am very proud of how the girls and guys carried themselves today," stated head coach Meenakshi Sundaram. "The girls learned some lessons from their first scrimmage loss and came out with a couple of wins today. A winning program builds one match at a time and the girls received that message today. The guys got a rough welcome to collegiate tennis from a quality team in Xavier. They have to keep their heads up and continue to work. I have immense faith in both my teams that results will come."

The Bleu Devils fell in the opening doubles match 6-1 with the team of Prerana Koirala and Kaavya Palani falling to XULA's team of Valentina Largacha and Kareemah Muhammad.

The second DU doubles pairing of Hafsa Sanhaji and Kayla Hennigan lost to the Gold Nuggets team of Juliette Finch and Tianna Dixson.

XULA won the third doubles match by default. The order for finish for doubles was 2-1

The team's number three singles player, Sanhaji, fell to Tianaa Dixson 6-3 and 6-4.

Dillard second singles player, Palani, won in straight sets 6-3 and 6-4 over Valaine Clark.

DU's fourth singles player, Hennigan, lost to Valentina Largacha 6-0 and 6-0

The team's number one singles player, Koirala, won the first and third set by scores of 6-2 and 6-3 in defeating Finch

Dillard's fifth singles player, Christian Jones, lost in straight sets 6-0 and 6-0 to Bailey Whitney.

Next, the DU women stay in town and take on Loyola University of New Orleans on Wednesday, Feb. 16, at 12 p.m. at the City Park Tennis Center

Results

Xavier 5, Dillard 2

XULA Tennis Center, New Orleans, La.

Doubles

No. 1 – Valentina Largacha – Kareemah Muhammad (XULA) d. Prerana Koirala-Kaavya Palani (DU) 6-1

No. 2 – Juliette Finch – Lindsey Dixson (XULA) d. Hafsa Sanhaji – Kayla Henningan (DU) 6-0
  

Singles

No. 1 — Prerana Koirala (DU) d. Juliette Finch (XULA) 6-2, 6-7, 6-3
No. 2 – Kaavya Palani (DU) d. Valaine Clark (XULA) 6-3, 6-4
No. 3 – Tianna Dixon (XULA) d. Hafsa Sanhaji (DU) 6-2, 6-2
No. 4 – Valentina Largacha (XULA) d. Kayla Hennigan (DU) 6-0, 6-0
No. 5 – Bailey Whitney (XULA) d. Christian Jones (DU 6-0, 6-0

Order of Finish: Doubles — 2,1. Singles — 3,2,4,1,5

Records: Dillard (0-1), Xavier of Louisiana (1-2)