WASHINGTON, D.C. – Catholic women's tennis opened Landmark Conference play with a 4-3 victory over Drew on a windy Saturday afternoon at the Dowd Family Tennis Courts.

The Cardinals started with a 1-0 lead after sweeping the doubles matches. Shloka Tambat and Mairead O'Hara combined to win a close match, 6-4, at No. 1. Paige Brightwell and Meaghan Laniewski worked well together at No. 2, winning 6-2. The No. 3 doubles pairing of Ella Knox and Ava Niggemeier also won comfortably with a final score of 6-1. 

Drew won the first singles match to finish, evening the score, but back-to-back wins at No. 3 and No. 1 helped Catholic regain control.
 
Laniewski returned to the courts for her singles match at No. 3. She doubled the Catholic score with a 6-2, 6-1 win, only allowing her opponent three games in two sets. Tambat extended the lead with a dominant first and third set to provide the third point of the day. She won the opening set 6-2 before dropping the second 7-5 and rallying to claim victory in the third. 

The Rangers picked up the following two points to force a deciding match at No. 6. Ava Kaloustian stepped up to close out the competitive victory for the Cardinals. The sophomore was able to spark a 5-2 lead in both sets before her opponent staged comebacks to make it 5-4. Kaloustain stayed composed and took both sets 6-4, 6-4. 

Catholic has a quick turnaround as it hosts Lebanon Valley for a dual match tomorrow at 1 p.m.