BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Niagara women's tennis team split two matches in its first spring opener on Saturday. The Purple Eagles fell, 6-1, to Lehigh before cruising to a 6-1 win over Lafayette.
 
In the spring opener against Lehigh, Niagara dropped the doubles point despite picking up a win from the No. 2 team of Ashley Ta and Maria Ortiz over Lehigh's Abby Farrell and Briana Maravich, 7-6 (5).
 
Paulina Velsaquez collected the Purple Eagles' lone point in the match when she defeated Farrell in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2, in number three singles.
 
The Purple Eagles bounced back with a dominating win over Lafayette later in the day. Niagara didn't lose a set in the matches that were completed.
 
NU won the doubles point by sweeping all three matches. Iva Celan and Stella Peisakhaova won 6-3 in three doubles. In No. 1 doubles, Brooke Briseno and Velasquez defeated Catherine Senopoulos and Caroline Nixon, 6-3; while Ashley t and Maria Ortiz cruised to a 6-1 win.
 
In singles play, Ta picked up the first win for the Purple Eagles and was quickly followed by Velasquez and Ortiz to clinch the match.
 
The Purple Eagles return home next weekend to host West Virginia (Feb. 7) and Colgate (Feb. 8).
 
Lehigh 6, Niagara University 1
 Singles competition
1. Cruz, Cassidy (LEHIGH-W) def. Celan, Iva (NIAW) 4-6, 6-1, 6-0
2. Campisi, Jamie (LEHIGH-W) def. Ta, Ashley (NIAW) 6-2, 6-1
3. Velasquez, Paulina (NIAW) def. Farrell, Abby (LEHIGH-W) 6-2, 6-2
4. Maravich, Briana (LEHIGH-W) def. Ortiz, Maria (NIAW) 6-2, 7-6 (7-5)
5. Godau, Kirstin (LEHIGH-W) def. Peisakhaova, Stella (NIAW) 6-3, 6-4
6. Duddy, Abby (LEHIGH-W) def. Briseno, Brooke (NIAW) 6-2, 6-3
 
 Doubles competition
1. Cruz, Cassidy/Campisi, Jamie (LEHIGH-W) def. Briseno, Brooke/Velasquez, Paulina (NIAW) 6-2
2. Ta, Ashley/Ortiz, Maria (NIAW) def. Farrell, Abby/Maravich, Briana (LEHIGH-W) 7-6 (7-5)
3. Godau, Kirstin/Duddy, Abby (LEHIGH-W) def. Celan, Iva/Peisakhaova, Stella (NIAW) 6-3
 
Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (2,3,1,4,6,5)
 
Niagara University 6, Lafayette 1
 Singles competition
1. Nixon, Caroline (LAFA-W) def. Celan, Iva (NIAW) 1-4, retired
2. Ta, Ashley (NIAW) def. Spellberg, Jordyn (LAFA-W) 6-2, 6-2
3. Velasquez, Paulina (NIAW) def. Moschella, Rocine (LAFA-W) 6-0, 6-4
4. Ortiz, Maria (NIAW) def. Senopoulos, Catherin (LAFA-W) 7-5, 6-1
5. Peisakhaova, Stella (NIAW) def. Almeida, Tori (LAFA-W) 6-1, 6-4
6. Briseno, Brooke (NIAW) def. Montes, Gabby (LAFA-W) 8-2
 
 Doubles competition
1. Velasquez, Paulina/Briseno, Brooke (NIAW) def. Nixon, Caroline/Senopoulos, Catherin (LAFA-W) 6-3
2. Ortiz, Maria/Ta, Ashley (NIAW) def. Spellberg, Jordyn/Montes, Gabby (LAFA-W) 6-1
3. Peisakhaova, Stella/Celan, Iva (NIAW) def. Moschella, Rocine/Almeida, Tori (LAFA-W) 6-3
 
Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (2,3,4,6,5)