BOCA RATON, Fla. – Harvard women's tennis (10-5) defeated Florida Atlantic in its final non-conference contest of the season, 4-2. The Crimson wraps up its spring break trip with two wins to extend its winning streak to six as it heads into the Ivy League slate.

Looking to start out on the right foot, the Crimson battled to the doubles point over the Owls. Natalie Block and Natasha Rajaram gave Harvard an early advantage with a dominant 6-1 win on court three. Kavya Karra and Stephanie Yakoff then secured the point for Harvard with a 6-4 victory at the top doubles spot.

After FAU tied the contest with a win on court four, Yakoff pulled the Crimson back in front at the top singles court. The standout junior defeated Panna Bartha (FAU) in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2.

The Owls pressured as they won three first sets, but Harvard was able to recover in two of the matches to secure its sixth straight victory. Claire Shao pulled the Crimson further in front at court three, defeating Malika Amirgaliyeva (FAU). After falling 6-3 in the opening set, Shao responded with a 6-3 second set and 6-4 third set.

FAU added its second win of the day with a victory at court five but Karra would ultimately go on to seal the match for the Crimson. After falling in the first set, 6-3, the junior responded with a 6-4 second set victory and battled through a tiebreak in the third set to clinch Harvard's win.

Results

Harvard – 4, Florida Atlantic – 2
Doubles

1. No. 49 Kavya Karra/Stephanie Yakoff (Harvard) def. Panna Bartha/Katrin Pavkova (FAU), 6-4
2. Kate Kim/Claire Shao (Harvard) vs. Malika Amirgaliyeva/Alexia Patru (FAU), 5-5 DNF
3. Natalie Block/Natasha Rajaram (Harvard) def. Malwina Rowinska/Maya Shanok (FAU), 6-1

Order of finish: 3, 1
Singles

1. Stephanie Yakoff (Harvard) def. Panna Bartha (FAU), 6-4, 6-2
2. Kavya Karra (Harvard) def. Malwina Rowinska (FAU), 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5)
3. Claire Shao (Harvard) def. Malika Amirgaliyeva (FAU), 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
4. Katrin Pavkova (FAU) def. Natalie Block (Harvard), 6-2, 6-0
5. Alexia Patru (FAU) def. Kate Kim (Harvard), 1-6, 7-6 (3), 6-1
6. Andra Braicu (Harvard) vs. Maya Shanok (FAU), 6-1, 5-7, 5-2 DNF

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

Next Up

Harvard will begin its quest for a second consecutive Ivy League title on Sunday, March 29 at 2:00 p.m. ET against Dartmouth in Hanover, N.H.