ROCK HILL, S.C. - College of Charleston women's tennis held an early lead before falling in its season opener to Winthrop, 5-2, at the Memorial Courts on Friday afternoon.

The Cougars won the doubles point after two pairs of doubles earned victories over the Eagles. Top-seeded Holly Dowse and Emma Hayman defeated Winthrop's Yasmine Alkema and Elizaveta Zaytseva, 8-6. In the No.3 spot, sophomore Caroline Newman teamed up with rookie Irene Viana in a decisive 8-2 win over Lisa Wilkinson and Paula Pereira.

Entering singles competition with a 1-0 lead, Charleston dropped five of the six ensuing matches to the Eagles. Junior Keely Mulligan was the only Cougar to capture a win, earning a 6-1,6-1 win over fifth-seeded Wilkinson.

Several members of the CofC team kept the match close, with two players forcing the game to a third set. No. 2 Hayman battled back after losing the first set, 6-3, to earn a 6-4 win over Alkema before falling in the third set. No. 4 Kinsey Casey captured the first set, 6-4, before dropping the next two to Winthrop's Giovanna Portioli.

College of Charleston (0-1) returns to action on Saturday when the team visits No. 14 Clemson at the Hoke Sloan Tennis Center at 11 a.m.

Singles
1. Elizaveta Zaytseva (WU) def. Holly Dowse (CofC) 7-6, 6-3
2. Yasmine Alkema (WU) def. Emma Hayman (CofC) 6-3, 4-6, 7-5
3. Sandra Herrera (WU) def. Caroline Newman (CofC) 6-4, 6-3
4. Giovanna Portioli (WU) def. Kinsey Casey (CofC) 4-6, 7-6, 6-0
5. Keely Mulligan (CofC) def. Lisa Wilkinson (WU) 6-1, 6-1
6. Paula Pereira (WU) def. Irene Viana (CofC) 7-5, 6-3

Doubles
1. Holly Dowse/Emma Hayman (CofC) def. Yasmine Alkema/Elizaveta Zaytseva (WU) 8-6
2. Sandra Herrera/Giovanna Portioli (WU) def. Kinsey Casey/Keely Mulligan (CofC) 8-6
3.  Caroline Newman/Irene Viana (CofC) def. Lisa Wilkinson/Paula Pereira (WU) 8-2