HANOVER, N.H. – Harvard women's tennis (10-6, 0-1 Ivy) dropped a heartbreaker to Dartmouth, 4-3, in the Ivy League opener yesterday afternoon.

The Crimson started the match in front, taking the doubles point with wins at courts one and three. The Big Green got its sole doubles win at court two to open play, but Harvard responded first with Natalie Block and Natasha Rajaram winning 6-3 at court three. The nationally ranked duo of Kavya Karra and Stephanie Yakoff then clinched the doubles point with a gritty, 7-5, win over Peyton Capuano and Michela Moore (Dartmouth).

Despite an early Harvard lead, the Big Green quickly pulled in front in singles with two consecutive wins on courts one and three.

Andra Braicu then tied the match, defeating Josephine Lombardi (Dartmouth), in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3.

The two teams traded points again with Big Green taking court two and Natalie Block following with a 6-3, 7-6 (5) win on court five to knot the match at three-all.

Despite Harvard battling, Dartmouth went on to steal the match with a three-set win on court four.

Results

Harvard – 3, Dartmouth – 4
Doubles

1. No. 49 Kavya Karra/Stephanie Yakoff (Harvard) def. Peyton Capuano/Michela Moore (Dartmouth), 7-5
2. Alexandra Orlins/Sam Grosjean (Dartmouth) def. Claire Shao/Kate Kim (Harvard), 6-4
3. Natalie Block/Natasha Rajaram (Harvard) def. Josephine Lombardi/Elise Wong (Dartmouth), 6-3

Order of finish: 2, 3, 1
Singles

1. Peyton Capuano (Dartmouth) def. Stephanie Yakoff (Harvard), 6-3. 6-0
2. Michela Moore (Dartmouth) def. Kavya Karra (Harvard), 6-2, 6-3
3. Alexandra Orlins (Dartmouth) def. Claire Shao (Harvard), 6-2, 6-1
4. Lauren Han (Dartmouth) def. Kate Kim (Harvard), 4-6, 6-4, 6-2
5. Natalie Block (Harvard) def. Sam Grosjean (Harvard), 6-3, 7-6 (5)
6. Andra Braicu (Harvard) def. Josephine Lombardi (Dartmouth), 6-2, 6-3

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

Next Up

Harvard will return to action next weekend with a road back-to-back against Princeton (Apr. 5) and Penn (Apr. 6).