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ORLANDO, Flo.- The Montana State University Billings Women's tennis team opened their spring season with a loss to Cederville University 3-6 and a 1-6 defeat at the hands of Division One Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, Niagara University.

Against Cedarville, the number one Yellowjacket doubles team of Morgan Opp and Hannah Shephard fell to CU's number one 8-2.  The number three team of Madeline Loomis and Marissa O'Connell lost 8-5.  The Yellowjackets number two team made up of Mary Conwell and Emily Paffhausen, defeated CU 8-6 to give MSUB one point and make it 2-1 in favor of CU heading into singles play.

Paffhausen and Conwell's stellar play continued into singles as both came away with wins going undefeated in the match.  Conwell, playing number four, beat CU's Joy Dice 6-1, 6-4 while Paffhausen rolled CU's Maryssa Herbert 6-2, 6-0. 

Playing number one singles, Opp fell 6-4, 6-2; Loomis playing at number two lost a hard fought match in a third set tie breaker 4-6, 7-5, 0-1 (6-10); Shephard was defeated 6-1, 6-0 and O'Connell lost 6-3, 6-1. 

"The Ladies ran up against a strong Cedarville team," Kosich said. "They played well and we had victories from Mary Conwell and Emily Paffhausen in both doubles and singles and overall I am proud of the ladies today." 

During the night time match, MSUB ran across a Div. I buzz saw.  Niagara swept through the doubles with an 8-1 victory over Opp and Loomis at number one; an 8-1 win over Conwell and Paffhausen at number two and an 8-3 victory over the MSUB number three team, Shephard and O'Connell 8-3.  Because of facing a Div. I opponent, the match was played using Div. I rules meaning the team to win the majority of the doubles (two of three) would secure the one doubles point available.  

The Purple Eagles flexed their Div. I strength in singles play winning five of six matches.  The lone victory for MSUB came from Hannah Shephard who won a straight set match over Iva Celan 6-3, 7-6 (10-4 in the second set tiebreak) to help MSUb avoide the sweep 1-6

The Yellowjackets (0-3) next face Grand Valley State University and Palm Beach Atlantic University on Friday Mar. 7th.