New Paltz, NY – The State University of New York at New Paltz women's tennis team dropped its first match of the season against Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 6-3.
 
After disappointing doubles play in the previous match head coach Rob Bruley was happy with how his team competed in doubles against RPI. The Hawks got on the board early with a win at 3^rd doubles by Jenna Grandville and Victoria Zezula 8-5. However, the Hawks went into singles down 2-1 after dropping close decisions at 1^st and 2^nd doubles.
 
Singles got off to a hot start for the Hawks as Lindsay Haley took the opening set at 6^th singles 6-3 followed quickly by first set victories from Emi Lewis at 4^th singles and Courtney Koran at 5^th singles. Unfortunately the momentum halted there for the Hawks as they dropped close first sets at 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd singles.
  Emi Lewis and Courtney Koran finished up their matches in the second set winning 6-3 6-4 and 6-2 6-2, respectively. The Hawks went on to drop the rest of the singles matches to fall to RPI 6-3 overall.
 
The match was a grueling  four-hour long affair with some great tennis being played by both sides, and Bruley was happy with what he saw from his team.
 
"We played really well and I like the fact we were really challenged," said Bruley. "We're looking forward to keeping the quality of tennis going at the Vassar Tournament."
  The Hawks get right back on the court Sunday for a tournament across the river at Vassar College.