FREDRICKSBURG, Va. – A marathon day of tennis ended with the Longwood women's team's first loss of the season, a 4-3 defeat at the hands of George Mason Saturday at the Battleground Athletic Complex.
 
The loss came as the second part of a double header on the campus of Mary Washington, immediately following Longwood's five-hour, 4-3 win over the host Eagles. The Lancers nearly pulled off back-to-back wins over a 12-hour session Saturday, but the Patriots outlasted Longwood in the No. 2, 3 and 4 singles spots to pull out the narrow victory.
 
"It was a long day, but give George Mason credit as their lineup depth allowed them to rest players," first-year head coach Bruce Myers said. "They were fresher than we were, and that they took care of their morning match in quicker fashion than us helped them a bit."
 
The loss is the first of the season for the Lancers, who opened Myers' first season with wins over Villanova (4-3), Bucknell (6-1) and Mary Washington (4-3). Key to those wins has been the play of team ace and senior Malin Allgurin, who continued her hot streak against George Mason.
 
Allgurin made quick work of the Patriot's top offering, taking down Jane Awad in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3. Allgurin has now won three straight No. 1 singles bouts, all in straight sets.
 
Along with Allgurin, Mason Thomas won at No. 5 singles and Nicole Parker at No. 6. Thomas and Parker have anchored Longwood from the bottom of the lineup, posting a combined record of 8-0.
 
Despite the singles wins from those three, however, George Mason rode a doubles sweep and singles victories from Marijke Boers, Megan Yang and Esu Erdenbat to victory. Yang clinched the win with a three-set victory over Maria Coronel at the No. 3 spot.
 
"I don't want to use any excuses for the loss," Myers said. "My players actually asked for additional strength and conditioning time along with more private lessons in order to improve their stamina and correct some mistakes. This team has a lot of heart, and I think we can take a lot of positives from the start of the season into conference play in a few weeks."
 
Up next for the Lancers is a road matchup at Seton Hall this Friday at 6 p.m. in Annapolis, Md. The Lancers follow with a Saturday showdown against Navy at 6 p.m.
 
George Mason 4, Longwood 3
Feb. 14, 2015
Fredricksburg, Va. (Battleground Athletic Complex)
 
Doubles
No. 1: Jane Awad/Esu Erdenbat (GMU) d. Malin Allgurin/Paloma Alatorre 8-4
No. 2: Marijike Boers/Megan Yang (GMU) d. Anna Pelak/Nicole Parker 9-8
No. 3: Brittany Pilkington/Mina Saygi (GMU) d. Mason Thomas/Maria Coronel 9-7
 
Singles
No. 1: Malin Allgurin (LWU) d. Jane Awad 6-4, 6-3
No. 2: Marijke Boers (GMU) d. Anna Pelak 7-5, 7-5
No. 3: Megan Yang (GMU) d. Maria Coronel 2-6, 6-3, 10-6
No. 4: Esu Erdenbat (GMU) d. Paloma Alatorre 7-5, 7-5
No. 5: Mason Thomas (LWU) d. Olivia Thompson 6-4, 6-0
No. 6: Nicole Parker (LWU) d. Scarlett Walston 3-6, 6-2, 10-5

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