RICHMOND, Va. - In its spring opener, the Longwood women's tennis team fell to American Athletic Conference foe Temple in a hard-fought 5-0 decision in the VCU 4x1 Invitational at the Thalhimer Tennis Center in Richmond, Va. on Sunday afternoon.

Freshmen Jamie Breunig and Marija Venta stepped into the number one and two slots for the Lancers, as Breunig forced a decisive third set before falling 2-6, 6-3, (10-7). The match was the first collegiate bout for Venta, who joined the Lancers this semester as a late signee, the first recruit for head coach Maria Lopez. She fell to Temple's Monet Stuckey-Willis 6-2, 6-1. 

"This was the first challenge of the season as well as an opportunity for the girls to understand the process and what it takes to compete at the highest level," said first year head coach Maria Lopez.  

Senior Mason Thomas moved up to the third seed after spending much of her junior season at the number five seed, falling just short 7-5, 5-5 (8-6) to the Owls' Mariana Bedon. Fallon Burger filled in at the No. 4 slot, falling 6-3, 6-1 to Cecilia Castelli.

In doubles competition, the duo of Anais Nussaume and Dina Karina knocked off the Lancers' Anna Pelak and Paloma Alatorre by a score of 6-1, 6-2, Pelak's first doubles loss and Alatorre's first doubles match of the season.

"Their discipline will determine the success of this year. Good effort collectively as a team but we have a lot of work to do," Lopez said.

Sunday's match was the sixth for the Temple Owls - who went 2-1 at the Invitational defeating Morgan State 5-0 and falling to host VCU 3-2, while the Lancers participated in just one match of the three-day tournament.

Longwood (0-1) has a quick turnaround as they open Big South conference play against route 460 rival Liberty on Wednesday at 2 p.m. in Lynchburg, Va.

Temple 5, Longwood 0
Jan. 29, 2017
Richmond, Va. (Thalhimer Tennis Center)

Singles Competition
1. Alina Abdurakhimova (TU) def. Jamie Breunig (LWU) 2-6, 6-3 (10-7)
2. Monet Stuckey-Willis (TU) def. Marija Venta (LWU) 6-2, 6-1
3. Mariana Bedon (TU) def. Mason Thomas (LWU) 7-5, 7-6 (6)
4. Cecilia Castelli (TU) def. Fallon Burger (LWU) 6-3, 6-1

Doubles Competition
1. Anais Nussaume/DinaKarina (TU) def. Anna Pelak/Paloma Alatorre (LWU) 6-1, 6-2

Match Notes
Order of finish: Doubles, 2, 4, 1, 3

#GoWood

Order of finish: Doubles, 2, 4, 1, 3