ORLANDO, Fla. - The Haverford College women's tennis team (4-2), receiving votes in the latest ITA Coaches Poll, came agonizingly close to an upset victory over No. 25 Denison (7-5), but the Big Red held on for a 5-4 win at the USTA National Campus in the Lake Nona district of Orlando Friday afternoon. 

Haverford showcased its prowess from the outset on Friday, with the doubles pairing of Ellie Esterowitz and Abbey Russano demonstrating why they are likely to be slotted among the top pairings in the region, dispatching the Maia Nowicki/Dasha Chistyakova team 8-1. Caroline Lopez and Kendall Schrader secured a key win over Emily Oh and Mimi Lavin, while Caroline Kittle and Peyton Oda did the same against Summer Williams and Rachael Fitzgerald, giving Denison an early 2-1 lead heading into singles play.

Emily Oh secured a win over Nowicki at the fifth flight, 6-1, 6-2, leveling the score early in singles. Esterowitz, at the second position, dominated with a 6-2, 7-5 triumph over Chistyakova, propelling the Fords into the lead.

Caroline Kittle defeated Rachael Fitzgerald at the third flight (7-5, 6-0), and Caroline Lopez mounted a comeback after dropping the first set to Mimi Lavin at the fourth flight, responding with a 6-1 win in the second set before clinching the match with a 10-6 win in a superbreaker to restore Denison's all-important lead.

Anna Leach sealed the victory for Denison at the sixth flight, despite a resilient effort from Williams as the two traded salvos. Williams lost a close one, 7-5 in the first set, and Leach then powered to a 6-1 win in the second to secure the win for Denison.

Russano continued her strong performance with a win at the top flight, rallying from an early deficit against Oda. Oda took the first frame 6-3, but Russano turned the tide with a 7-5 victory to force a superbreaker. Russano controlled the extra frame, winning 10-1 for Haverford's fourth point.

Haverford will now return from spring break after posting a 3-2 record in the Orlando area. The Fords will face tough competition ahead, with matches against No. 26 Mary Washington and No. 23 Christopher Newport scheduled for March 29th and 30th, respectively.