REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands Women's Tennis team dropped their first match of the season Saturday against Brandeis University in a close 4-3 battle inside the Verdieck Tennis Center. The match, originally scheduled for Thursday evening, had been postponed due to rain.

After putting up a fight in all three doubles matches, the Bulldogs fell short, not able to secure the early point seeing Brandeis sweep 7-5 (No. 1), 7-5 (No. 2), 6-4 (No. 3).

However, the Bulldogs started to find their footing during singles. No.1 Maegan Deng (Torrance, CA) put the Bulldogs on the scoreboard after her opponent retired during the first set leading 3-2. Next to her at No.2 was Lindsey Whelan (Mercer Island, WA) who rolled in another win 7-5, 6-2.

Brandeis brought the score back even at 2-2 when Jasmine Sheets (Hesperia, CA) at No. 6 fell 6-0, 6-4. Vrishitha Kumar (Mumbai, India) at No. 4 and Maisy Reynoso (El Paso, TX) at No. 3 had opportunities in their matches both going the distance.  Kumar pulled out the 6-3, 0-6, 6-2 win giving the Maroon and Grey another point but Reynoso would come up short 4-6, 6-2, 6-0 during her match. These two matches kept the two teams' deadlocked with a 3-3 score.

The deciding match came down to freshman, Hadley Allaria at No. 5 who had also been battling through a third set.  But after a two and a half hour match, Brandeis would pull out the come from behind win 3-6, 6-4, 7-5, giving Brandeis the small 4-3 edge over the Bulldogs.

Redlands returns to the court Friday, February 27 when they host No. 13 Azusa Pacific University beginning at 3:00pm.