SAN RAFAEL, Calif. — The Dominican University of California women's tennis team dropped its spring opener, 9-0, to No. 14 Academy of Art University on Saturday.

In No. 1 singles, Dominican freshman Rickimae Torres, who came in ranked No. 36 in the nation after a hot fall, fell 11-9 to ART U senior Nina Gajdosikova, who is ranked No. 43 in the nation. Torres took the first set 6-2, but Gajdosikova evened the score with a 6-1 victory in set two. Torres raced out to a 6-1 lead in the tiebreaker but was outscored 10-3 down the stretch.

Gianna Cupo fell 6-3, 6-1 to Lucia Zavarcikova. Chloe Vicari fell 6-1, 6-0 to Annika Schneider. Solveig Karlsen fell 6-2, 6-2 to Dorta Markowsa. Kelly Zwicker dropped No. 5 singles to Michelle Dandik, 6-3, 6-1. Mackenzie Flanaga was swept 6-0, 6-0 by Jenny Johansson.
 
Dominican trailed 3-0 early after being swept in doubles play by the No. 4 team in the region. Torres and Cupo fell 8-1 to Gajdosikova and Schneider. Zwicker and Vicari dropped an 8-4 decision to Zavarcikova and Johansson. Karlsen and Flanagan fell 8-0 to Dandik and Kinga Kruczbuch.

Dominican is back in action on Saturday, Feb. 21 when the Penguins host Mills College at 10 a.m.