CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The University of Pennsylvania women's tennis team dropped its first match of the spring season on Friday night, falling 4-2 to Brown to open the ECAC Championship.
 
Gavriella Smith and Esha Velaga tallied Penn's two points in the match to highlight the battle with the Bears. Smith started the singles round out with a bang, tying the match at one, off a 6-3, 6-3 decision over Lindsey Hofflander. Freshman Velaga fought back in her battle with Ali Benedetto, falling 3-6 in the first set before bouncing back 6-2, then 6-1 in the third set to win the Quakers' final match against Brown.
 
Freshmen Liza Tkachenko and Sasha Motlagh won the sole doubles bout with the Bears, edging out Vivian Miller/Daniella Ben-Abraham, 7-5.
 
Up Next
Penn (7-1, 0-1 Ivy League) continues the ECAC Championship on Saturday, taking on Dartmouth at 11 a.m. at the Marr Center.
 
Results
Doubles
Phoebe Pues/Lindsey Hofflander def. Esha Velaga/Eileen Wang, 7-6
Ali Benedetto/Addison Ahlstrom def. Iris Gallo/Maya Urata, 7-5
Liza Tkachenko/Sasha Motlagh def. Vivian Miller/Daniella Ben-Abraham, 7-5
Doubles Order of Finish: 3, 2, 1
 
Singles
Esha Velaga def. Ali Benedetto – 3-6, 6-2, 6-1
Phoebe Peus def. Eileen Wang – 6-4, 2-6, 6-4
Gavriella Smith def. Lindsey Hofflander – 6-3, 6-3
Vivian Miller def. Iris Gallo – 6-3, 4-6, 6-4
Dani Ben-Abraham vs. Sasha Motlagh – 6-4, 7-6, 5-3 DNF
Anne Yang def. Liza Tkachenko – 6-2, 6-1
Singles Order of Finish: 3, 6, 1, 4, 2