CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard women's tennis (2-1) dropped its first contest of the season against Boston College (4-1) yesterday evening, falling 4-1 to its crosstown rival. 

The two Boston-area schools were locked in an instant battle as doubles got underway.  It was back-and-forth on all three courts with either team winning a match with a 7-5 decision to start.  The former NCAA qualifiers, Kavya Karra and Stephanie Yakoff, teamed up for the first time this dual-match season to grab the Crimson's sole doubles win at the top spot. 

The Eagles then stole the doubles point by a narrow margin on court two.  After forcing a tiebreaker, the Boston College duo slid past Anna-Raphaëlle Serghi and Natasha Rajaram, 8-6, to win the match.

Boston College then carried its momentum into singles, pulling within a point of clinching with victories at court four and two. 

Before the match concluded, Kavya Karra got Harvard on the board with her third win in as many matches.  Karra continued to impress yesterday evening, defeating Natalie Eordekian (Boston College) in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2. 

Results

Harvard – 1, Boston College – 4
Doubles

1. Kavya Karra/Stephanie Yakoff (Harvard) def. Seren Agar/Natalie Eordekian (Boston College), 7-5
2. Olivia Benton/Leyden Games (Boston College) def. Anna-Raphaëlle Serghi/Natasha Rajaram (Harvard), 7-6 (6)
3. Tola Glowacka/Bella Camacho (Boston College) def. Natalie Block/Claire Shao (Harvard), 7-5

Order of finish: 3, 1, 2
Singles

1. No. 49 Stephanie Yakoff (Harvard) vs. Olivia Benton (Boston College), 6-7 (2), 3-0 DNF
2. Seren Agar (Boston College) vs. Claire Shao (Harvard), 6-4, 6-2
3. Kavya Karra (Harvard) def. Natalie Eordekian (Boston College), 6-3, 6-2
4. Tola Glowacka (Boston College) def. Natasha Rajaram (Harvard), 6-3, 6-3
5. Leyden Games (Boston College) def. Kate Kim (Harvard), 6-2, 6-2
6. Andra Braicu (Harvard) vs. Nadia Barteck (Boston College), 5-7, 1-3 DNF

Order of finish: 4, 2, 3, 5

Next Up

The Crimson will now hit the road, heading to Wisconsin for a pair of matches.  Beginning Saturday, Harvard will play back-to-back days against University of Wisconsin and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.