HARROGATE, Tenn. – After several postponements, the Lee University women's tennis team finally opened its 2022 season with a trip to Lincoln Memorial University Sunday afternoon where the Lady Flames fell 5-2.

"To be honest it was just nice to have the ladies back on the court," said Lee head coach Patric Hynes. "We've had an interrupted pre-season and it showed a little bit today, but full credit to LMU for the match they played. We just need to keep improving." 

The Railsplitters (6-1) claimed two of the three doubles matches to take a 1-0 lead into singles competition. Ashleigh Simes and Matina Ujdur won 6-0 over Laura Jipescu and Sophia Aray. LMU's Samantha Hogan and Keana Moon beat Hayden Smith and Mirjana Ragastovac 6-2. Valentina Ascarrunz and Julia Valls secured the team point with a 6-2 margin over Micaela Belen Maiz and Sierra Donaldson.

Valls pushed the LMU lead to 2-0 with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Ujdur. Simes defeated Jipescu 6-1 and 7-5 at No. 1 singles to cut the deficit in half. Ascarrunz outlasted Belen Maiz in three sets to push the hosts within one of the team win. Amanda Dahlstrom held off Donaldson to clinch the team victory with a 7-5, 6-4 advantage at No. 5 singles. Aray added another LMU point with a come-from-behind three-set win over Ragastovac at No. 4 singles.

Smith collected a 6-3, 6-1 win against Kushi Khandoji at No. 6 singles to provide the final 5-2 score.

The Lady Flames are scheduled to take on Tusculum University on Tuesday. The non-conference meeting is set for 2 p.m.