LONG BEACH, Calif.— The UC Riverside Women's Tennis Team opened the 2018-2019 season Saturday morning with an early season conference matchup at Long Beach State. The Highlanders showed tremendous fight in the first dual match of the season, but could not hold on as The Beach would take it 5-2.

"The team did a great job once they settled into their matches," Head Coach Mark Henry said. "All three of our top singles players had very good matches and Tia and Sara were very solid in their win at court one doubles. I'm looking forward to seeing how we come out tomorrow at SDSU"

The Beach would claim the first point of the match taking doubles wins on courts two and three, but the dynamic duo of sophomore Tia Elpusan and junior Sara Khattab would put the Highlanders on the board with a court one triumph. The all-conference doubles team from a year ago did not miss a step winning its first matchup of the year 6-4.

In singles play Long Beach would seal the match with wins on courts four, five, and six, but the Highlanders refused to quit battling on the upper three.

Freshman Mahli Silpachai found success in her first ever collegiate dual match downing her opponent on court three in straight sets 6-3, 6-2. Sophomore Tia Elpusan would add another on court two falling in the first set but battling back to win the match 1-6, 6-2, 7-6. 

Freshman Lindsey Gelinas nearly earned her first career singles win holding down court one for the Highlanders, but was just edged out in a three set fight dropping the contest 3-6, 7-6, 5-7.

UC Riverside will now head to San Diego State to take on the Aztecs tomorrow afternoon.