WALTHAM, Mass. – In a battle of top-30 teams, the #27 Brandeis University women's tennis team pushed #18 Babson, but the Judges were unable to hand the Beavers their first defeat of the season in a 5-4 loss in the Gosman Athletic Center today.

TEAM RECORDS/RANKINGS

• Brandeis: 6-6, #27 in Division III by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association.
• Babson: 6-0, #18 in Division III by the ITA.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Beavers took a 2-1 lead over the Judges after doubles play. After the visitors won at #3, 8-1, and #1, 8-5, the Judges first-year duo of Nancy Zhang (Shanghai, China / Shanghai International Division) and Ella Chase (Lincoln, Mass. / Lincoln-Sudbury Regional) got on the board with a late break for an 8-6 win at #2.
• In the first flight of singles, Babson's Matia Cristiani knocked off Judge sophomore Bhakti Parwani (Ahmedabad, India/Kumkum School), 6-3, 6-3, at #2.
• Zhang got her second win of the day at #3, 6-4, 6-4, over Kamila Stasiowska.
• The Judges looked to have the advantage at #1 when first-year Rebecca Suarez (Huntington, N.Y. / International Virtual Learning Academy) won the first set, but Babson sophomore Olivia Soffer rallied for a 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 win, to put the Beavers ahead, 4-2, headed into the final three singles matches.
• Brandeis sophomore Anastasia Sia (Thessaloniki, Greece / Anatolia College) rolled in the first set and then outlasted Juliette Moschella in the second for a 6-0, 7-6 (7-4), to get Brandeis within 4-3.
• Babson's Mariana Campos clinched the win for the visitors at #6 with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Brandeis sophomore Cecilia Denis (Ardmore, Pa. / Lower Merion).
• Chase earned her second win of the day, 6-4, 6-4, at #5, over the Beavers' Elena Keitt.

UP NEXT

• The Judges head to New York City to face University Athletic Association rivals #26 NYU on Sunday at 11 a.m.