NEW ORLEANS, La. – Belhaven's women's tennis team fell for the first time this season at the hands of No. 11 Xavier University-New Orleans on Thursday afternoon. The Lady Nuggets swept the individual matches to give them an overall win of 9-0 over Belhaven.

The match was an early test for Belhaven and allowed them to see where they are early on, on a national scale.
Xavier came into the contest as one of the best teams in the country despite being hosts of a 3-3 record in the standings. Their record was extremely deceiving, as all three of the Lady Nuggets' losses had been against NCAA Division I opponents making their way through New Orleans.

Belhaven's second doubles tandem of Indi Mire and Natalia Krier had the best outings in the first set of matches, keeping things close before falling 8-4. The Gold Nuggets found ways to win the other two doubles matches handily.

Singles was not any easier for the Blazers, but Savannah Zachry worked a tight match at fourth singles to try and salvage a point for Belhaven. Zachry was ultimately bested by Simon-Alyse Ewell in a close straight set match.

The Blazers fall to 3-1 on the year and will look to rebound on Saturday against Rust College in Holly Springs.
 
Singles
 
1. Kourtney Howell (XU-W) def. Ashley McLendon (BU) 6-0, 6-0
2. Brion Flowers (XU-W) def. Indi Mire (BU) 6-1, 6-1
3. Amanda Materre (XU-W) def. Natalia Krier (BU) 6-2, 6-1
4. Simone-Alyse Ewell (XU-W) def. Savannah Zachry (BU) 6-3, 6-2
5. Vashni Balleste (XU-W) def. Shelley Munn (BU) 6-1, 6-3
6. Olivia West (XU-W) def. Elizabeth Chrestman (BU) 6-1, 6-2
 
Doubles
 
1. Howell/Flowers (XU-W) def. McLendon/Katherine Campbell (BU) 8-1
2. Ewell/Materre (XU-W) def. Mire/Krier (BU) 8-4
3. Amber Brown/Nicole DeLoach (XU-W) def. Zachry/Munn (BU) 8-2