COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – Sophomore Christie Pawl scored a convincing victory at sixth singles as the Ursinus College women's tennis team opened Centennial Conference play with an 8-1 loss to nationally ranked Washington College in a regionally ranked rumble on Wednesday.

Washington College (5-1, 2-0), which came in ranked No. 40 in Division III and No. 10 in the Atlantic South Region, stretched its winning streak to five matches while ending the Bears' own unblemished run at six.

Pawl defeated Kiran Pant 6-1, 6-1 at number six to keep Ursinus (6-2, 0-1) from being shut out in its league opener.

Junior Christine Palazzolo was involved in a pair of tight matches, teaming with senior Stephanie-Jane Seabra to push the Shorewomen's tandem of Krista Filiopoulos and MP Hubert in an eventual 8-6 setback at third doubles. The Bear captain took on Hubert at fifth singles, where she fell by the final count of 6-3, 7-5. No other Ursinus player won more than four games in individual play.

The Bears welcome Dickinson to the Bailey Courts for a CC showdown on Saturday, April 2.