BRADFORD, Pa. – The Pitt-Bradford women's tennis team suffered a 6-3 defeat at the hands of Houghton College in its 2014 season opener on Friday, Sept. 5, in Houghton, N.Y.

Pitt-Bradford (0-1) fell behind early in doubles play and was never able to make up ground. Several Panthers were making their debut for the Blue and Gold.

Alexa Holleran and Allie Claherty dropped the opening doubles match 8-0 in the first flight. Shaina Reddinger and Maggie Hansen fell 8-3 in the No. 2 flight, while the duo of Emily Fowkes and Jamie VanAlstine claimed the first victory of the year in the third flight, 8-1.

In singles play, Holleran registered her first win for the Panthers in the first match, 7-6, 6-2. Claherty fell in the second flight 6-4, 6-3. Fowkes was defeated in the No. 3 match 6-4, 7-6 (8) and Hansen dropped the fourth game 6-1, 6-0.

VanAlstine suffered a 7-6 (5-7), 10-8 defeat in game five, while Amy Thomas won her flight 6-3, 6-4.

Pitt-Bradford returns to the court for the home opener on Sunday, Sept. 7. The match gets underway at the Kessel Athletic Complex at 11 a.m.