Orlando, Fla. – Despite a top court doubles victory by Mariya Dobreva and Mia Miranda, as well as singles wins by Miranda and Axelle Van Beurden, the Western Carolina women's tennis team dropped its opening match of spring break, falling to the Quinnipiac Bobcats, 4-2.

The Catamounts were forced to forfeit on the sixth singles court and the third doubles court, with the Bobcats pressing the early advantage for the win.  

WCU (2-9) has an extremely quick turnaround as it faces the Penn Quakers on Friday at 7:30 a.m. Quinnipiac (6-6) concludes its spring break run 3-1 and will face Seton Hall on March 15.

How it Happened:
Quinnipiac took an early advantage in doubles play due to the WCU forfeit on court three, though Mariya Dobreva and Mia Miranda posted a 6-4 top court win to even the early point. The duo is 5-5 in doubles play as the top seed this season.  

Hokualohi Lui and Kelly Coetzee then fell 6-2 to Vera Sekerina and Caroline Schulson on the second court as the Bobcats took a 1-0 lead in the match.
 
Quinnipiac's lead grew to 2-0 as the Catamounts were forced to forfeit on the sixth court in singles play.

Lui retired on court five, with Quinnipiac taking a 3-0 lead before Willow Renton clinched the win on the top court. Mariya Dobreva fell 6-1 in her opening set before rallying in the second, but still fell 7-6 (7-4) as the top seed.  

Axelle Van Beurden notched her second singles win of the season and her first career Division I victory with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Anagha Shankar on the third court. Second seed Mia Miranda followed Beurden's win with a straight-set victory of her own, downing Caitlin Flower 6-3, 6-4.

Kelly Coetzee had claimed an opening set 6-4 win on the fourth court over Caroline Schulson, before the Bobcat evened the singles match with a 6-2 set two win. The two were tied in sets before play concluded with Quinnipiac earning the 4-2 win.

Up Next for The Catamounts:
WCU returns to action on Friday against Penn with the first serve at 7:30 a.m. The Catamounts then return home to host Marshall on March 18 and the Furman Paladins on March 19.