ORLANDO, Fla. (March 16, 2018) – Howard University Women's Tennis team dropped a tough bout against Chicago State (CSU), 4-3, at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Fla.
 
With the loss, HU (3-6) saw its brief two-game winning streak come to a halt.
 
Freshman standout Nathalie Finch continues her dominance in singles competition, earning her third straight victory by knocking off CSU's Mariva Kostyuk in straight sets (7-5, 6-4).
 
Junior Nicole Hutchison rallied to defeat Chicago State's Leshia Gadacz in three sets (6-7 [4-7], 6-4, 6-3).
 
Fellow classmate Kindha Nasef won her singles match in straight sets, topping CSU's Lorea Gamboa (6-3, 6-3).
 
Newcomer Yassmine Khiri won her first set, 7-6 (5-7), but the Cougars' Anastasii Goncharova came back to take sets two and three (3-6, 1-6).
 
In doubles competition, junior Christina Joynes and Aria Ragas served as the squad's No. 3 team where they took down CSU's Goncharova and Alana Andrews 7-6 (10-8).
 
On March 24, both squads hit the road to Hampton, Va. where they will meet Hampton in conference play. The Battle of the Real HU on the court starts at 2 p.m.
 
Howard vs. Chicago State
March 16, 2018 at Orlando, Fla. (USTA National Campus)
 
Chicago State 4, Howard 3
 
SINGLES COMPETITION
 
1. FINCH,Nathalie (HU) def. Kostyuk, Mariya (CSUW) 7-5, 6-4
2. Goncharova,Anastasii (CSUW) def. KHIRI,Yassmine (HU) 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 6-1
3. HUTCHISON,Nicole (HU) def. Gadacz, Leshia (CSUW) 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 6-3
4. NASEF,Kindha (HU) def. Gamboa, Lorea (CSUW) 6-3, 6-3
5. Drazic, Katarina (CSUW) def. JOYNES,Christina (HU) 6-3, 6-4
6. Andrews, Alana (CSUW) def. RAGAS,Aria (HU) 6-0, 6-0
 
DOUBLES COMPETITION
 
1. Kostyuk, Mariya/Drazic, Katarina (CSUW) def. FINCH,Nathalie/HUTCHISON,Nicole (HU) 6-2
2. Gadacz, Leshia/Gamboa, Lorea (CSUW) def. NASEF,Kindha/KHIRI,Yassmine (HU) 6-1
3. JOYNES,Christina/RAGAS,Aria (HU) def. Goncharova,Anastasii/Andrews, Alana (CSUW) 7-6 (10-8)
 
MATCH NOTES
 
Howard 3-6
Chicago State 4-12
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (6,5,4,1,2,3)
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.