In a match between two nationally-ranked programs, the No. 15 California University of Pennsylvania tennis team suffered a 6-3 loss to Carnegie Mellon, the No. 6 team in NCAA Division III, while opening the spring season on Saturday morning.

Following the loss, the Vulcans fall to 1-2 on the year after spliting two dual matches during the fall campaign. Meanwhile, the Tartans improve to 4-0 overall after reaching the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in seven years last season.

The No. 12 tandem of junior Kiefer Shaw (Westmount, Quebec/Centennial) and sophomore Lena Dimmer (Wallendorf-Pont, Luxembourg/Lycée Classique) earned an 8-6 victory at first doubles over Brooke Tsu and Jamie Vizelman to start the match. The duo of freshman Holly Bennett (Kingston, United Kingdom/Sussex Downs-Lewes) and junior Jasi Witherspoon (Macon, Ga./Howard) fell 9-7 against Cori Sidell and Katie Lai at the second slot, while juniors Alyssa Savill (Holbrook, Australia/Billabong) and Veronika Mikulis (Otterburn Park, Quebec/Heritage Regional) lost 9-7 to Abbey Hamstra and Nicholle Torres at third position.

In singles action, Shaw fell to No. 16 TSU by a 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 count at first position, while Dimmer earned a 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 6-2 win against Sidell at the second slot. At third singles, Witherspoon was defeated 6-1, 6-1 by nationally-ranked Torres and Mikulis was dealt a 6-2. 6-4 loss by Vizelman at the fourth position. Bennett dropped Hamstra by a 6-2, 7-5 count at the fifth slot and Savill fell 7-5, 7-5 to Marina Selencia at sixth singles.

Cal U returns to action in just over two weeks on Feb. 21 against Westminster at the Glenn Creek Tennis Club in South Park, Pennsylvania, at 6 p.m.