FARMINGDALE, N.Y. – Taking to the courts for the first time against a Skyline Conference opponent in the 2023 season, the Manhattanville College women's tennis team dropped a tightly contested 5-4 match at Farmingdale on Wednesday evening. The loss drops the Valiants' record to .500 at 2-2 overall as the team will start conference play 0-1.

The match's difference maker would come in doubles play as the hosting Rams were able to take two of the three points. Bea Pretnar (Mohegan Lake, N.Y.) and Keto Karkashadze (Tbilisi, Georgia/New School International) improved to 3-1 as a doubles pairing in the top flight on the year, defeating Lien Collings and Natalia Furchel, 8-2. Despite the strong performance by their top pairing, the Valiants would fall in the remaining two doubles matchups. Suzi Doyle (Devon, England/Exeter College) and Addison-Mercedes Ortiz (Bronx, N.Y./High School for Health Professions and Human Services) fell to Amanda Jones and MacKenzie Gisler 6-8 in the No. 2 flight, while Sara King (Schenectady, N.Y./Scotia-Glenville) and Elizabeth Dolce (Bronx, N.Y./Riverdale Kingsbridge Academy) were bested 4-8 by Gabriella Loria and Mikayla DeMaria.

The Valiants and Rams split the six singles matchups, allowing Farmingdale to secure the match win. Manhattanville was victorious on each of the top three courts, with Pretnar logging a 6-1, 6-4 win over Collings in the top flight. The Skyline's Rookie of the Week Doyle had a dominant showing in the No. 3 flight against Jones, 6-1, 6-0, while Ortiz outlasted Furchel 7-6 (8-6), 6-4 in No. 2 Singles.

While the Valiants took care of business in the top flights, the Rams' 4 through 6 players were able to knock off Manhattanville to secure the match win. Karkashadze was bested by Gisler 1-6, 2-6 in the No. 4 flight, while King was blanked by Loria in the No. 5 court, 0-6, 0-6. DeMaria got the Rams off to a 2-0 start to conference play by besting Dolce, 3-6, 0-6.

Up Next
The Valiants are back at home on Saturday to host Purchase at noon.

VALIANTS on SOCIAL MEDIA For the latest on Manhattanville Athletics, follow the Valiants via social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Threads and YouTube. #WeAreValiant #GoValiants