CASTLETON, Vt. – The Castleton women's tennis team opened up conference play this weekend with a matchup against Bridgewater State, falling 9-0 to the Bears at home despite several competitive matches.
 
Bridgewater State (2-1, 1-0 LEC) took the early 3-0 lead after the afternoon's doubles matches, winning in straight sets on first and second courts before Castleton's (1-2, 0-2 LEC) Megan Brier and Stella Forte nearly stole the match on Court #3, ultimately falling 8-6.
 
In singles play, the Bears took quick victories at first, second and sixth courts before another win on Court #3 gave them the 7-0 advantage. But in the final matches of the day on fourth and fifth singles, Forte and newcomer Ginny Trevisan put up a valiant effort in their matches.
 
Forte fell 6-4 in her first set, but battled back in the second to force a seventh game before dropping the 7-5 decision. On fifth singles, Trevisan won her second set tie-breaker — Castleton's lone set win of the afternoon — before falling 10-5 in the decisive third set.
 
The Spartans return to action Wednesday, September 14 to take on Plattsburgh State at home. First serve is scheduled for 4 p.m.