ATHENS, Ga. – In a battle of Ivy League rivals, Harvard women's tennis fell just short against Princeton, 4-3, on the opening day of the ITA Kickoff at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex in Athens, Georgia.

The Crimson built an early lead in doubles action. On court No. 1, Charlotte Owensby and Holly Fischer won five of the last six games en route to a 6-3 win against Princeton's Pearlie Zhang and Isabella Zhang, putting Harvard in pole position against the Tigers. A decisive 6-1 win from Kavya Karra and Stephanie Yakoff sent the first point of the match Harvard's way.

Heading into singles play, Harvard continued battle and find success against the Tigers. In a back-and-forth match, Owensby scored a key win for the Crimson, rallying in the third set to take down Chhiv. Karra earned Harvard's sole straight-set win in single's action, as the Tigers secured the victory with an additional four wins in singles action.

RESULTS

Harvard – 3, Princeton – 4
Doubles
1.Charlotte Owensby/Holly Fischer (Harvard) def. Pearlie Zhang/Isabella Chhiv (Princeton), 6-3
2.Kavya Karra/Stephanie Yakoff (Harvard) def. Eva Elbaz/Maren Urata (Princeton), 6-1
3.Yichen Zhao/Tsehay Driscoll (Princeton) def. Maxi Duncan/Natalie Block (Harvard), 5-3.

Singles
1.Alice Ferlito (Princeton) def. Holly Fischer (Harvard), 6-3, 6-1
2.Charlotte Owensby (Harvard) def. Bella Chhiv (Princeton), 6-4, 3-6, 6-2
3.Eva Elbaz (Princeton) def. Maxi Duncan (Harvard) , 6-3, 6-4
4.Yichen Zhao (Princeton) def. Stephanie Yakoff (Harvard), 3-6, 6-3, 6-3
5.Kavya Karra (Harvard) def. Anna Nguyen (Princeton), 6-1, 6-1
6.Pearlie Zhang (Princeton) def. Natalie Block (Princeton), 6-3, 4-6, 6-4

NEXT UP

The Crimson continue their journey at ITA Kickoff tomorrow, facing either Georgia or UNC-Charlotte in the tournament finale at 10:00 a.m. ET.