Box Score FLUSHING, N.Y.-The defending MAAC Champion Fairfield University women's tennis team traveled to the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing, New York to begin their 2025 Spring Season on Friday afternoon against the Red Storm of St. John's University, and the Stags won the doubles point, but St. John's prevailed in the match by a 4-1 score.

All three double matches were decided by a 6-4 score on Friday, as the Stags' team of Maria Gell and Nicolette Loeffler, playing at number one, clinched the point for the visitors after a win at number two doubles from teammates Sarah Liu and Victoria Mandma.

Maeve Cassidy and Lily Malinowski teamed up at number three doubles for head coach Jeff Bricker's team in the 2025 Spring opener.

In singles play, St. John's clinched Friday's match with four, hard-fought victories at the number two, four, five and six slots.

Victoria Mandma played in the number one slot for the Stags on Friday and split two sets (4-6, 6-3) against the Red Storm's top player, but her match was left unfinished after the overall outcome was decided.

Fairfield's Nicolette Loeffler also split two sets in an unfinished match at number three singles, as she won the opening set, 6-3.

Head coach Bricker was pleased with the Stags' effort in Friday's opener saying, "I'm proud of the effort today from the women. They competed hard up and down the lineup. We played really well to take the doubles point and had our opportunities in singles, just struggled to close sets out a bit. A lot to build on going forward."

The Fairfield women's tennis team is right back in action tomorrow evening, Saturday, January 25 at 6:00 p.m. when the Stags will wrap up a busy opening weekend of action when they host the Long Island University Sharks at the Tennis Club of Trumbull, the squad's indoor home away from the Walsh Athletic Center courts.