The Oglethorpe women's tennis team fought hard in its season opener against the SCAD-Atlanta Bees Saturday at the Howell Courts, but fell 6-3 in the end to drop to 0-1 on the season.

The Bees swept the Stormy Petrels in doubles play, going ahead 3-0 and putting the home team behind the eight-ball from the remainder of the afternoon. The duo of junior Lisette Phillips and freshman Alyssa Merletti came closest with an 8-4 defeat out of the No. 2 slot, but the Petrels entered singles competition needing to win five of the six matches.

Freshman Alexis Salgueiro played an outstanding match out of the No. 6 slot, winning a three-set barnburner by taking the final-set tiebreaker 9-7. Meanwhile, Merletti followed with a three-set victory out of the fifth slot. Senior Hannah Dattilo went three sets to beat her competitor on the top line, winning 6-2, 1-6, 6-3. However, the Bees took the other three singles matches to take the dual match 6-3.

The Petrels will be back in action on Saturday, Feb. 22, when they welcome Florida National to the Howell Courts at 9 a.m.