KINGSTON, R.I. ? The Monmouth University women's tennis team dropped a pair of non-conference matches this past Friday and Sunday on a two-match trip through the state of Rhode Island, losing to Providence University, 6-1 and University of Rhode Island, 7-0.

Coach Patrice Murray was quick to point out the level of competition on the road swing. “The Rhode Island trip is always tough competition. Our loss to Providence {6-1} was deceiving as we lost a handful of very close matches.”

Monmouth started the match winning third doubles and was ahead in first doubles, 6-5, before falling at the end and losing 8-6. The Blue and White dropped the second singles losing the overall doubles match point.

The Hawks snatched the second doubles win, 6-4, 6-4, and was ahead in first, third, and fourth singles before Providence's players each made a comeback to win those sets. Both first and third singles went into third sets, and fourth singles lost in a tiebreak, 7-6 (5) in the second set.

Taking the tough loss into Sunday's match with the University of Rhode Island wasn't easy, as the Hawks dropped the second match in three days to URI, 7-0.
 
“{University of Rhode Island} is the best team that we will face all year,” said coach Murray. “We had some great points and great games, but fell short in turning them into wins.”

The Blue and White lost all six singles matches and all three doubles matches with senior Sarah Ragan (Lanoka Harbor, N.J./Lacey Township) providing the closest match at first singles with a 6-1, 6-0.

The Hawks return to action this afternoon as they host the final match of the fall season against Drexel at 3:00 p.m.