PRINCETON, N.J. - The University of Pennsylvania women's tennis team fell short in the opening round of the ECAC Championship on Friday afternoon, dropping a tight 4-2 decision to Ivy League foe Brown.

Penn shot out early to a 1-0 lead behind its first doubles point victory of the season. Marta Kowalska and Marija Curnic teamed up on court three, winning 6-2, before the Bears evened things up with a win on court two. Lina Qostal and Ashley Zhu clinched the point for the Red and Blue with a 6-3 victory on the first court.

The Quakers were unable to maintain their momentum in singles play, as the Bears won five first sets, with Qostal on court one the lone victory for Penn in the first frame. Qostal couldn't hold on however, dropping consecutive sets by scores of 6-3 to fall to Maddie Stearns, as Brown evened the match at 1-1.

The Bears would take a 2-1 lead behind a 6-4, 6-4 win on court three over Kowalska, before Penn punched back. Curnic rallied from down a set on court five to take down Courtney Kowalsky 2-6, 6-0, 6-2, giving the Quakers their second point of the day.

After Brown won on court six to take a 3-2 advantage, it came down to matches on courts two and four, both in three sets. While Zhu was cruising in the deciding set on court four, Rodriguez-Benito could not complete the comeback, dropping a 6-3 third-set frame to clinch the match for Brown, 4-2.

Penn is back in action tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 10 at 8 a.m. against Harvard. 

Brown 4, Penn 2
Doubles
1. Lina Qostal/Ashley Zhu (Penn) def. Juliana Simon/Devon Jack (Brown) 6-3 
2. Alyza Benotto/Semi Oloko (Brown) def. Jimena Rodriguez-Benito/OJ Singh (Penn) 6-3
3. Marta Kowalska/Marija Curnic (Penn) def. Maddie Stearns/Courtney Kowalsky (Brown) 6-2

Singles
1. Maddie Stearns (Brown) def. Lina Qostal (Penn) 1-6, 6-3, 6-3
2. Alyza Benotto (Brown) def. Jimena Rodriguez-Benito (Penn) 6-4, 1-6, 6-3
3. Devon Jack (Brown) def. Marta Kowalska (Penn) 6-4, 6-4
4. Ashley Zhu (Penn) vs. Juliana Simon (Brown) 2-6, 6-4, 4-0 DNF
5. Marija Curnic (Penn) def. Courtney Kowalsky (Brown) 2-6, 6-0, 6-2
6. Katie Ta (Brown) def. OJ Singh (Penn) 6-4, 6-4

Order of Finish: Doubles (3,2,1), Singles (1,3,5,6,2)