Queens, N.Y.  - The Long Island University women's tennis team opened up its spring schedule with a 6-1, neutral-site loss to Howard. Sophomore Taysha Blessington was the lone Blackbird to win a match, downing Brittney Morgan at the No. 2 singles spot, 6-4; 6-1.

 

In other singles action, sophomore Aleksandra Pavlovic fell to Michelle Brown, 6-1; 6-2, at the top spot and senior Dara Lahens dropped a No. 3 singles match to Katelyn Stokes by a 6-3; 6-0 margin. Sophomore Linn Sjogren suffered a 7-6; 7-6 defeat at the hands Brooke Hawthorne at the No. 4 spot. At No. 5, freshman Fatima Ouattara fell to Alyssa Works, 6-4; 7-6.

 

In doubles play, the Bison took the points with a pair of wins at the first and second positions. At No. 1, Brown and Stokes defeated Pavlovic and Blessington, 9-8. At No. 2, Morgan and Hawthorne handed Lahens and Ouattara an 8-2 defeat.

 

The Blackbirds will return to play on Saturday, Feb. 19 with a visit to St. John's.

Howard 6, Long Island 1

Doubles
No. 1: Michelle Brown/Katelyn Stokes (HU) def. Aleksandra Pavlovic/Taysha Blessington (LIU), 9-8
No. 2: Brittney Morgan/Brooke Hawthorne (HU) def. Dara Lahens/Fatima Ouattara (LIU), 8-2
No: 3: Alyssa Works/Ashley Moore (HU) def. (LIU), default

Singles
No. 1: Brown (HU) def. Pavlovic, 6-1; 6-2
No. 2: Blessington (LIU) def. Morgan (HU), 6-4; 6-1
No. 3: Stokes (HU) def. Lahens (LIU), 6-3; 6-0
No. 4: Hawthorne (HU) def. Linn Sjogren (LIU), 7-6; 7-6
No. 5: Works (HU) def. Ouattara (LIU), 6-4; 7-6
No. 6: Anne Ahkimien (HU) def. (LIU), default