WALTHAM, Mass. – First-year Bhakti Parwani (Ahmedabad, India / Kumkum School) was a winner at #1 singles, but the Brandeis University women's tennis team dropped a 5-1 decision to visiting Colby College today at the Gosman Athletic Center. With the loss, the Judges fall to 3-5 on the season. The Mules, ranked 32nd in Division III, improve to 2-0.
Colby jumped out to a 3-0 lead after doubles. The Mules took wins by scores of 8-4 and 8-1 at the first two spots. The closest match was at #3, where Parwani and classmate Anastasia Sia (Thessaloniki, Greece / Anatolia College) fell, 8-6.
In singles action, Colby's Sam Riordan defeated Brandeis sophomore Nikita Salkar (Mumbai, India / Mourataglou Tennis Academy) at #2, 6-3, 6-1, to make it 4-0 in favor of the visitors. Parwani got the Judges on the board at #1 with a 6-4, 6-3, victory. In the decisive match, Colby's Sydney Landau outlasted Brandeis senior Ana Hatfield (Rockford, Ill. / Boylan Central Catholic), 7-6, 7-5, taking the tiebreaker in the first set by a 7-5 score.
Brandeis returns to action next Saturday, March 19, at 10 a.m. against University Athletic Association foes from the University of Rochester.