VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Valdosta State women's tennis team opened the 2021 season winning the doubles point against No. 15 North Georgia, but was unable to hang on, falling 4-2 at the VSU Tennis Courts.
 
VSU No. 3 duo of freshman Julia Saving and sophomore Birte Langestein posted a 6-3 victory, while UNG won at No. 2 as Cibeles Zuddy and Johanna Lippert won 6-0 over sophomore Eva Rivoal and junior Hera Bjork Brynjarsdottir.  The Lady Blazers then won at the top spot as senior Estee Widdershoven and freshman Rachelle Starreveld, 6-3, to claim the doubles point.
 
The Nighthawks tied the match 1-1 with a win at No. 4 singles as Anna Markvartova downed Langestein, 6-2, 6-3.  UNG took a 2-1 lead at No. 2 with a 6-3, 6-2, win by Zuddy over Rivoal and Annie Adams won at No. 3 over Starreveld, 7-5, 6-4, for a 3-1 lead. 
 
Widdershoven won at the top spot for the Lady Blazers, winning by tiebreaker in the first set, 7-6 (7-5) and 6-2 in the second set for a 3-2 score.  Rafaella Villanueva won at No. 5 to clinch the match with a 6-0, 6-2 victory.

The Lady Blazers continue at home next week as they are scheduled to face Flagler on Friday, Feb. 12 at 2 p.m., followed by a 1 p.m. match with Keiser on Sunday, Feb. 14.