CAMDEN, N.J. — The New Jersey City University women's tennis team made its long-awaited return to the court today, Saturday, March 27, hitting the road for official competition for the first time since the late 1970s. The Gothic Knights faced Rutgers-Camden in New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) action, but fell to the Scarlet Raptors 6-1. The teams did not compete in third doubles or sixth singles.

NJCU (0-1, 0-1 NJAC) had a tough time in their re-debut match on Saturday against Rutgers-Camden (1-0, 1-0 NJAC). The Gothic Knights came this close to splitting the two double matches with the Scarlet Raptors. The second doubles match finished first and went to Rutgers-Camden, 8-4, but first doubles was highly contested. Sophomore Giada Zorzan (Milan, Italy/Liceo dello Sport Marco Pantani ) and freshman Lockslea Mayers (Westminster, Md./Westminster) teamed up and went toe-to-toe with the first pair for the Scarlet Raptors, but unfortunately fell 8-7.

In singles play, Zorzan made quick work of her opponent to pick up NJCU's only match win of the day, 6-0, 6-0. Third singles finished next, as Rutgers-Camden took the 3-1 lead before taking fifth singles as well. Freshman Shirley Colonia (Alexander Hamilton Prep/Elizabeth, N.J.) picked up a few games at second singles, but ultimately the Scarlet Raptors were able to clinch it, 6-1, 6-2, and the match at 5-1 before finishing up at fourth singles.

FULL RESULTS (RU-C 6, NJCU 1):
Doubles (2-0 Rutgers-Camden)
1: Samantha Hoban/LeAnne Hall (R) def. Giada Zorzan (Milan, Italy/Liceo dello Sport Marco Pantani )/Lockslea Mayers (Westminster, Md./Westminster) (N), 8-7
2: Erica Steer/Hannah Cohan (R) def. Shirley Colonia (Alexander Hamilton Prep/Elizabeth, N.J.)/Karolen Ebrahim (Jersey City, N.J./William L. Dickinson) (N), 8-4

Singles (4-1 Rutgers Camden)
1: Zoran (N) def. Hoban (R), 6-0, 6-0
2: Hall (R) def. Colonia (N), 6-1, 6-2
3: Cohan (R) def. Hana Agarrouj (Agadir, Morocco/Lycée Mohamed Zerktouni) (N), 6-0, 6-0
4: Steer (R) def. Ebrahim (N), 6-0, 6-3
5: Alyna Cabrere (R) def. Mayers (N), 6-1, 6-3

What's Next
The Gothic Knights are on the road once again for their next match. They travel to Wayne, N.J., on Tuesday, March 30, for a 4:30 p.m. afternoon NJAC match with William Paterson University.