BROOKLYN, N.Y. - The LIU Brooklyn women's tennis team opened Northeast Conference play with a huge win Friday afternoon, as the Blackbirds defeated Bryant in Providence, R.I., 4-3. The match was a true test of endurance, lasting over four and a half hours long.

LIU took an early lead in the match, by winning the double point, in what would prove to be the deciding factor of the match. Bryant had a win in the No.2 doubles spot, where Ashanti Campfield and Linnea Sjoberg defeated Isabella Wagener and Brittany Thompson in a close decision, 8-6. But the Blackbirds pulled out wins in Nos. 1 and 3 doubles, to take the point. At No.1 doubles, senior Sanne Louwers and sophomore Marine Dans beat Ryan Brown and Marion Bouillin, 8-5, and at No.3 doubles, junior Caroline Koenigsfeldt and senior Nancy Zonneveld downed Devieu Ammendola and Briana Leonard, 8-5.

The early 1-0 advantage would prove to be crucial for LIU, as singles split evenly. Bryant had wins at Nos. 4 and 6 singles to gain traction on the Blackbirds. At NO.4, Leonard defeated Wagener, 7-6(5), 6-1, while Thompson fell at No.6 to Campfield, 6-0, 6-4.

The Blackbirds were able to stay in the match with wins by Louwers and Dans in the top two spots. Louwers beat Brown in straight sets, 7-6(0), 6-2, while Dans downed Bouillin in three, 6-2, 2-6, 6-1. At that point, the team score was LIU 3, Bryant 2, and the Blackbirds need just one more singles win to clinch the team victory. And the Blackbirds got that win in the No.5 singles spot, from senior Nancy Zonneveld. Zonneveld, playing in one of the longest singles matches of the day, beat Nina Luiggi, 6-3, 7-5, to clinch LIU's fourth point, and the team win.

Bryant would pick up its' third team point in the No.3 singles spot, where Koenigsfeldt lost a three set battle to Sjorberg, 4-6, 6-4, 7-5.

In the end, it was the Blackbirds who would take the team win, 4-3, to improve to 3-1 overall this season, and 1-0 in NEC play.

First year head coach Rose Ketmayura was please with her team's gritty win. "It was the best doubles point and overall best team performance I've seen since I got here in September," Ketmayura said.

Up next, the Blackbirds take on the University of Connecticut, Saturday, February 21st at 12:45 p.m. in Storrs, Conn.

LIU Brooklyn 4, Bryant 3

Doubles
1. Sanne Louwers/Marine Dans (LIU) def. Ryan Brown/Marion Bouillin (BRYW) 8-5
2. Ashanti Campfield/Linnea Sjoberg (BRYW) def. Isabella Wagener/Brittany Thompson (LIU) 8-6
3. Caroline Koenigsfeldt/Nancy Zonneveld (LIU) def. Devieu Ammendola/Briana Leonard (BRYW) 8-5

Singles
1. Sanne Louwers (LIU) def. Ryan Brown (BRYW) 7-6 (0), 6-2
2. Marine Dans (LIU) def. Marion Bouillin (BRYW) 6-2, 2-6, 6-1
3. Linnea Sjoberg (BRYW) def. Caroline Koenigsfeldt (LIU) 4-6, 6-4, 7-5
4. Briana Leonard (BRYW) def. Isabella Wagener (LIU) 7-6 (5), 6-1
5. Nancy Zonneveld (LIU) def. Nina Luiggi (BRYW) 6-3, 7-5
6. Ashanti Campfield (BRYW) def. Brittany Thompson (LIU) 6-0, 6-4