SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Harvard women's tennis dropped a battle to the No. 55 nationally ranked UC Santa Barbara Gauchos, 5-2, yesterday afternoon. 

The Crimson reached tiebreakers on two separate doubles courts but ultimately dropped to 1-0 in the match to begin the day.

Despite Harvard battling, the Gauchos were able to clinch the match through the first three singles match completed, stealing wins at court one, four, and three.  UC Santa Barbara followed with another point at the No. 6 spot, but the Crimson persevered in the remaining two matches to get on the board.

Competing at court two, Stephanie Yakoff took down the No. 105 nationally ranked singles player, Anna Weissheim (UCSB), in straight sets (6-3, 7-5).  Kavya Karra tallied the final point of the day at the No. 5 spot.  Karra and her opponent split the first two sets with a pair of 6-4 decisions.  The Crimson sophomore than won the decisive third set tiebreaker, 11-9, to end Harvard's day with another victory. 

Results

Doubles

1. Amelia Honer/Lucy Lu (UCSB) def. Holly Fischer/Kavya Karra (Harvard), 6-2
2. Maxi Duncan/Natalie Block (Harvard) vs. Anna Weissheim/Raphaelle Leroux (UCSB), 6-6 DNF
3. Lily Pradkin/Ali Benedetto (UCSB) def. Angel You/Rachel Arbitman (Harvard), 7-6 (4)

Order of finish: 1, 3

Singles

1. No. 10 Amelia Honer (UCSB) def. Holly Fischer (Harvard), 6-3, 6-1
2. Stephanie Yakoff (Harvard) def. No. 105 Anna Weissheim (UCSB), 6-3, 7-5
3. Tyra Richardson (UCSB) def. Kate Kim (Harvard), 6-2, 6-2
4. Raphaelle Leroux (UCSB) def. Maxi Duncan (Harvard), 6-4, 6-1
5. Kavya Karra (Harvard) def. Emma Tutoveanu (UCSB), 6-4, 4-6, 1-0 (11-9)
6. Katarina Vayser (UCSB) def. Natalie Block (Harvard), 6-3, 6-2

Order of finish: 1, 4, 3, 6, 2, 5

Next Up

The Crimson will open Ivy League play next we it hosts Dartmouth College on Sunday, March 30 at 2:00 p.m. ET in Cambridge.