NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The 24th-ranked Christopher Newport women's tennis team suffered it's first loss in Capital Athletic Conference play on Saturday, as No. 12 Mary Washington won, 8-1, at the Eyre Courts in Newport News. Rookie Reagan Delp picked up the team point for CNU with a win at No. 5 singles. 

The Captains fall to 7-5 on the season with a 2-1 record in conference play as a six-match win streak was snapped by the Eagles. Mary Washington improved to 12-2 overall and 3-0 in league play. 

Playing on a beautiful spring day, the Captains fell behind 3-0 after doubles and dropped the first two matches in singles play as Mary Washington clinched the match. In the No. 2 doubles bout, Colette Gilbert and Amanda Yermal were edged, 8-6, in a close match against Claire Coleman and Danielle Mirabella. 

CNU got a pair of hard-fought matches at 1 and 2 singles, but Johanna Ranta-aho and Kara Ferner suffered losses in each of their respective tiebreakers. Ranta-aho, taking on regionally-ranked Rachel Summers, fell in a 6-1, 2-6, 10-5 final while Ferner, also facing a ranked foe, fell 5-7, 7-6, 10-6 against Coleman. 

The Captains' lone win came from Delp at No. 5 singles, against Sophie Dixson. Playing in her first career match against the Eagles, Delp won 7-5, 6-4, and improved to 7-5 in duals this season. 

CNU will return to action on Sunday, March 31 as they host St. Mary's (Md.) on Senior Day at 1:00 pm. If weather forces a move indoors, the women's team will host the Seahawks at 10:00 am at the James River Country Club.