MIAMI GARDENS, FLA. – In their first match of the season, the St. Thomas women's tennis team hosted Bethune-Cookman University. The Wildcats defeat STU, 7-0 but the score does not do the Bobcats justice. Gabriella Bongiovanni, Brigitte Bustimante and Ahley Ahern all put in good singles performances.

Bethune-Cookman won on all three courts in doubles competition. On court three, Monica Rekkel and Bustimante won three games, but fell 8-3. On court one, Tetiana Kovalska and Bongiovanni lost 8-0.

The Bobcats put in a strong performance on doubles against BCU. Bongiovanni was strong on court two, winning 10 games but losing 7-6, 6-4. On court four, Bustimante put in a similar effort, taking seven games and falling 6-4, 6-3. Court five was the site of the best of match of the day. Ahern fought hard in the first two set, forcing a third set. In the deciding set Ahern continued to fight sending it to a tie-breaker but eventually fell 10-8.

Doubles
1. Matsuba/Sablina (BCU) def. Kovalska/Bongiovanni (STU) 8. -0
2. Chinchilla/Kajiwara (BCU) def. Rekkel/Bustimante (STU) 8-3

Singles
1. Matsuba (BCU) def. Kovalska (STU) 6-4, 6-2
2. Sablina (BCU) def. Bongiovanni (STU) 7-6, 6-4
3. Nyenwe (BCU) def. Rekkel (STU) 6-0, 6-1
4. Ifill (BCU) def. Bustimante (STU) 6-4, 6-3
5. Beresiarte (BCU) def. Ahern (STU) 6-7, 6-3, 10-8