SAN RAFAEL, Calif. – Dominican women's tennis fell 5-2 to Holy Names University in its home opener Friday at Castellucci Family Tennis Center.

The Hawks (1-0) jumped out to an early advantage in doubles as Jahan Bayramova and Dominique Ernst took the top court 6-1 to open the match. The Penguins (0-1) were able to even quickly behind a dominant performance from seniors Alex Wartenberg and Michelle Li who defeated Lada Baglaeva and Anna Hoerter of HNU 6-2 on the third court. 

The doubles point came down to the second court where sophomores Nicole Bermudez and Taylor Lim of Dominican squared off with Rutendo Gwaze and Symone Jacques. The match went back and forth until Gwaze and Jacques earned a crucial break to take the 7-5 victory and give the Hawks a 1-0 lead.

Holy Names rode the momentum into singles as Ernst took No. 3 doubles 6-3, 6-0 and Gwaze added a 6-2, 6-3 victory on the fifth court to put the Hawks within a point of the team victory. Li won the first point of the day for the Penguins at No. 6 singles as she dispatched of Hoerter 7-5, 6-3. 

It would not be enough as Jacques earned a 6-1, 7-5 victory on the second court to seal the HNU victory. Lim gave Dominican its second point as she fought off Macy Barajas in a tightly contested 6-2, 5-7, 7-6 (3) victory.

Dominican will hit the road Saturday, Feb. 9, at 2 p.m. PST to face Fresno Pacific, who is in its first season of competition since 2014.