MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Bethune-Cookman Women's Tennis captured its first point of the season Saturday afternoon, as the Wildcats dropped a tough 4-1 decision to Prairie View A&M in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Pod #1 event hosted by Alabama State at Olean Black Underwood Tennis Center.
 
Bethune-Cookman (0-8, 0-3 SWAC) collected the No. 3 doubles spot with a walkover as the team of Loncey Elie and Courdeja Clark earned the default victory. It was the Wildcats tandem's first victory of the year at No. 3 doubles, respectfully.
 
Prairie View A&M (1-9, 1-1 SWAC) turned things around with a 6-1 win at No. 2 doubles defeating the Wildcats' duo of Jalayah Shaw and Allexii Bassette. The point was decided at No. 1 doubles with BCU's Janet Imbo Nloga and Tuhina Sambhus falling by a 6-3 score line against the Panthers' team of Victoria Castillo and Ainara Rodriguez.
 
"When we lost at No. 2 [doubles], we looked a little deflated at No. 1 [doubles] – and then we were down 1-5," commented Head Coach Chris Wollett. "Then we showed some signs of fight and brought it back to 3-5, but just couldn't get any momentum in the ninth game, unfortunately."
 
In singles play, the first point of the season for BCU was collected by Courdeja Clark with a default win at No. 6.
 
Prairie View's Victoria Castillo was too much for Bethune-Cookman's Janet Imbo Nloga at the No. 1 spot, as the Panthers top-flight player registered a 6-1, 6-0 victory. That was followed at the No. 4 position with Andrea Blanca collecting a straight-set (6-1, 6-1) win from BCU's Allexii Bassette.
 
"Singles was a slow start, but we had some courts fighting hard," remarked Wollett. "I thought [Tuhina] Sambhus and Loncey [Elie] did a great job of extending points longer, which were working in our favor."
 
The Panthers grabbed the match win courtesy Francesca Duca's 6-1, 6-2 victory at No. 2 singles over the Wildcats' Jalayah Shaw.
 
For the Cats, Loncey Elie was locked in a hard-fought battle with Prairie View's Cierra Garcia at the No. 5 spot, as Elie fell in the opener, 6-2. But the Greenacres, Florida native trailed just 6-5 and looked to take it to a tie-break before the match was called, as the team win was secured by Prairie View.
 
"We can definitely learn from the competition today to get ready for Alabama A&M tomorrow," said Wollett.
 
Bethune-Cookman completes its stay in the SWAC Pod #1 against Alabama A&M on Sunday beginning at 11 a.m. ET. The match will be housed back at the Olean Black Underwood Tennis Center.
 
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COMPLETE RESULTS
Singles Competition
1. Victoria Castillo (PVAMU) def. Janet Imbo Nloga (BCUW) 6-1, 6-0
2. Francesca Duca (PVAMU) def. Jalayah Shaw (BCUW) 6-1, 6-2
3. Ainara V. Rodriguez (PVAMU) vs. Tuhina Sambhus (BCUW) 6-4, 4-2, unfinished
4. Andrea P. Blanca (PVAMU) def. Allexii Bassette (BCUW) 6-1, 6-1
5. Cierra Garcia (PVAMU) vs. Loncey Elie (BCUW) 6-2, 6-5, unfinished
6. Courdeja Clark (BCUW) def. No player (PVAMU), by default
 
Doubles Competition
1. Victoria Castillo/Ainara V. Rodriguez (PVAMU) def. Janet Imbo Nloga/Tuhina Sambhus (BCUW) 6-3
2. Andrea P. Blanca/Francesca Duca (PVAMU) def. Jalayah Shaw/Allexii Bassette (BCUW) 6-1
3. Loncey Elie/Courdeja Clark (BCUW) def. No player/No player (PVAMU), by default