Burke, Va. – Mason opened its spring season with a 5-2 setback to the Villanova Wildcats tonight at Burke Racquet & Swim Club.
 
"I was proud of how we competed against a solid Villanova team," said Head Coach Steve Curtis. "This was the first step for getting ready for Atlantic 10 competition."
 
The Wildcats earned the first three points of the match, beginning with a sweep of the Patriots in doubles action. 
 
Mason battled back earning the next two points to cut the lead to 3-2.
 
Freshman Paige La continues to impress in her initial campaign with the Patriots earning a three-set win (3-6, 6-1, 10-6) against Villanova's top singles player Lexi DeNucci. With the win, the Fairfax native improves to 12-3 overall.

At No. 2 singles, Brianna Gibbs won in the tie-breaker set. The junior won the first match, 6-2, then dropped the second set 6-1 before winning the tie-breaker set, 10-7.
 
The Patriots will have two weeks before they compete again. Mason will host Mary Washington, Saturday, Feb. 8 at Burke Racquet and Swim Club.

Mason vs. Villanova
Saturday, January 25, 2020
Burke Racquet and Swim Club
 
Villanova 5
Mason 2
 
Singles
#1        Paige La (Mason) def. Lexi DeNucci (Nova), 3-6, 6-1, 10-6
#2        Brianna Gibbs (Mason) def. Claudia Althans (Nova), 6-2, 1-6, 10-7
#3        Kaylan Rotman (Nova) def. Hannah Yang (Mason), 7-5, 6-3
#4        Carina Burdick (Nova) def. Jackie Nannery (Mason), 6-4, 6-2
#5        Caitlin Fisher (Nova) def. Ashley Fitz-Patrick (Mason), 6-1, 6-2
#6        Olivia Kapp (Nova) def. Marium Raza (Mason), 6-2, 7-5
Order of finish: 4,3,2,1,5,6
 
Doubles
#1        Rotman/Althans (Nova) def. La/Yang (Mason), 6-1
#2        Burdick/DeNucci (Nova) def. Nannery/Isabella Daverio (Mason), 6-4
#3        Kapp/S. Grigiorian (Nova) def. Gibbs/C. McCarthy (Mason), 6-2
Order of finish: 3,1,2