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NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Despite suffering a 6-3 setback to the 20th-ranked University of Mary Washington (13-6, 6-0), the 40th-ranked Christopher Newport women's tennis team made history on Saturday. The Captains (12-5, 5-1) played in their first ever match as a nationally-ranked team, and in the process, became the first CNU women's team to post more than a single win against a Mary Washington team in 16 career matchups. 

The 6-3 setback was even closer than the final score indicated, as CNU picked up the historic second win before doubles were finished. The Captains won at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles, and carried a 2-1 advantage into singles play after being narrowly edged out for a 8-6 loss at No. 3. In singles action, CNU's top three stood tall against the regionally-ranked trifecta that leads Mary Washington, but managed just win between the three matches. 

The Captains were highly competitive against the veteran Eagles squad that clinched the top seed in next week's CAC Tournament with the victory. The battle was clear from the outset, as CNU took it to their more experienced counterparts in doubles action. 

First, the rookie tandem of McKinney Harwood and Alexandra Drye toppled Mary Washington's top pair, Caroline Mosberg and Mackenzie Smith, 8-5. Then, after teetering through the first several points, sophomores Katie Carlson and Logan Eldridge pulled away late for an 8-5 win over Shelby Harris and Alex Ritter at No. 2. Finally, another rookie tandem, Kate Huck and Kristi Wong, hung in with Chrissy Gaul and Alina Suyama, but could not quite pull off the comeback in an 8-6 loss. 

Heading into singles action, the Eagles took control with straight set wins at lines 4-6. With the score tied, they only needed one win from the top three and they pulled away with two. 

The lone CNU singles victory came from Carlson, picking up her first career win over a regionally-ranked opponent. The CNU sophomore captured a hard-fought 6-3, 5-7, 10-3 win over Mosberg, who was ranked 24th in the most recent Atlantic South regional rankings. 

Christopher Newport will close out the regular season against Salisbury University on April 16 at 2:00 pm. The match will decide who earns the No. 2 seed and who will play as the No. 3 seed in the CAC Tournament, which begins April 19.