GAMBIER, Ohio -- Hosting its second dual of the season and first since March 1, the No. 32-ranked Kenyon College women's tennis welcomed a tough test in the No. 30-ranked University of Mary Washington. The Owls overcame a slow start and bounced back in singles to secure a 6-3 victory.

The win is Kenyon's first over a nationally-ranked opponent in four tries this season, and it boosts the Owls' record to 9-3. Meanwhile, Mary Washington drops to 5-6 with the loss.

Mary Washington took an early edge in the Nos. 2 and 3 doubles matches before the Owls battled back, but UMW held on to win 8-5 in both bouts and jumped ahead 2-0 in the dual. The No. 1 doubles duel was a tightly-contested affair as the Owls duo of Eleni Lazaridou and Eleni Dakos went back and forth against the Eagles pairing of Amanda Hagino and Hana Kimmey. Kenyon led throughout before UMW tied the match at 7-7, but the Owls' top team prevailed 8-6 in the tiebreaker to clinch the 8-7 (8-6) win and add a point to Kenyon's team total.

When the contest converted to singles matches, the close competition ratcheted up. The Owls looked to be in trouble after falling big in the first set of the Nos. 2 and 3 matches, but wins in the Nos. 1 and 4 bouts righted the ship. Shadia Amado Aguad had the smoothest path to victory at No. 4, winning 6-3, 6-3 to pull the teams even at 2-2. At almost the same time, Lazirodou, Kenyon's top singles player, finished a 6-2, 7-5 sweep in the No. 1 match to put the Owls up in the dual.

The momentum had shifted at that point as Allaire Berl and Dakos locked in and turned the tides in their singles matches. At No. 2, Berl bounced back from a 6-1 loss in set one by gutting out a 7-5 win in set two. She clinched the victory with a 6-2 decision in the deciding third set. At No. 3, Dakos followed the same formula in a prolonged match. She bounced back from a 6-2 set-one loss with a 6-2 set-two win before prevailing 7-5 in a tight third set. The victory clinched the dual for Kenyon at 5-2.

However, the Owls were not done yet, as Catriona MacIntosh won 6-3, 6-1 at No. 6 in the dual's fastest singles match. Lalasa Nagireddy and Emily Becknew played out the No. 5 match, and Nagireddy cooled off after a hot start, falling 2-6, 7-5, 1-0 (10-6) to close Kenyon's 6-3 victory.

Up next, the Owls will carry their 1-0 North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) record into two conference contests over the next two days. Kenyon welcomes Ohio Wesleyan University (9-2, 0-0 NCAC) to Gambier at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 1, before hosting Wittenberg University (6-6, 0-0 NCAC) at noon on Sunday, April 2. The Owls will celebrate their Senior Day during Sunday's dual.