HILTON HEAD, S.C. – After the weather postponed the George Mason women's tennis Spring Break opener, the Patriots played its first match of the four-match trip against SIUE today at Hilton Head High School.

SIUE took all three doubles matches to secure the first point of the match. Several singles matches were competitive before the Cougars took all six singles points and a 7-0 victory. George Mason dropped to 3-5, while SIUE improved to 10-2. 

Two matches went to the third-set tiebreakers. The Cougars Amelia Gorman edged Cenan Liu at No. 1 singles 6-3, 4-6, 11-9. The Patriots Lauren Splett won the opening set, 6-2 before Stefaniya Anikina won the second set, 6-3, and tiebreaker 10-8 at No. 5 singles.

George Mason continues this trip with two matches on Friday, a 9 am match against Berry College and later in the day against West Virginia State at 5 p.m.