DOVER, Del.-  Monmouth University's women's tennis team ran into a red-hot Delaware State squad on Friday afternoon to open the spring season, eventually falling 6-1 to the Hornets.

Delaware State, which had won four straight spring matches coming into Friday, won five of six singles matches and the doubles point for the win.  Senior Reciel Arribe's (Hillsborough, N.J./Hillsborough) win by default at the sixth singles position was Monmouth's lone win of the afternoon.

Earlier in the day, the Monmouth duo of Dana Ferrari (Saddlebrook, N.J./Immaculate Heart Academy) and Jessica Slinger (Tinton Falls, N.J./Monmouth Regional) won five sets in an 8-5 loss at the third doubles spot.  The Hornets won the first two doubles positions in 8-0 fashion.  MU was without freshman Brooke Verdiglione (Englishtown, N.J./St. John Vianney), who had an impressive fall season.

Delaware State is now 5-2 in matches this season while MU falls to 2-8.  Monmouth is back on the court on Monday, March 28 when the Hawks host La Salle at 3:30 p.m.

DELAWARE STATE 6  MONMOUTH 1 
Singles
No. 1    Anna Ratnikova (D) def. Nicole Lippens (M)                     6-2, 6-1
No. 2    Christina Andrade (D) def. Dana Ferrari (M)                     6-1, 6-1
No. 3    Marina Sicic (D) def. Katie Tierney (M)                     6-1, 6-1
No. 4    Kristina Alecksic def. Shelby Goldman (M)                       6-1, 6-0
No. 5    Hannah Adewumi (D) def. Jessica Slinger (M)                  6-3, 6-0
No. 6    Reciel Arribe (M) wins by default                                   

Doubles           
No. 1    Andrade/Sicic (D) def. Lippens/Arribe (M)                       8-0
No. 2    Ratnikova/Alecksic (D) def. Tierney/Goldman (M)             8-0
No. 3    Adeuwumi/Motshidid (D) def. Ferrari/Slinger (M)              8-5