DANVILLE, Va.—Competing for the first time of the spring season, the Southern Virginia University women's tennis team came up short at Averett University, falling by a 6-3 score Thursday afternoon in Danville, Virginia.

In singles competition, Southern Virginia's No. 1 Elizabeth Fuchs was defeated by Averett's Hannah Mattson, 6-2, 6-0.  The Knights earned consecutive victories at No. 2 and 3 as Lindee Christensen topped Averett's Morgan Epstein by default before No. 3 Rachel Christensen defeated Jessie Gomes (AU) by set scores of 6-1, 7-6 (2-0).

Averett would go on to sweep the remaining three singles matches as Riley Smith beat Micah Roberts (SVU) in a close match, 7-6 (4-0), 5-7, 10-5. Katie Abelseth then defeated Southern Virginia's Kari Stollenwerk 6-0, 6-2 before Annalies Jobsis (AU) topped Heidi Lee, 6-2, 6-2.

In doubles play, the tandem of Fuchs and L. Christensen came out on top of Averett's Epstein and Gomes by an 8-2 score. AU's Mattson and Abelseth overcame R. Christensen and Roberts by a close tally of 9-7 before Jobsis and Smith defeated Southern Virginia's Stollenwerk and Ashley Adamson, 8-1.

The Knights return to action Friday at Mary Washington to open conference play with a start time of 5 p.m. in Fredericksburg, Virginia.