ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. — The Bard College women's tennis team had its first home match of the year and emerged victorious, posting an 8-1 win over Mount Saint Mary College on a cloudy and rainy Sunday afternoon. 

Bard (2-0) gained the early momentum with the three doubles points, as the No. 1 pairing of first-year Hanna Okalava and sophomore Paige Houghton took an 8-4 victory. The duo of junior Bella Ries and sophomore Lexi Sanchez won 8-1 at No. 2 doubles. At No. 3 doubles, senior Josie Smith and junior Izzi Popolizio took care of business and won 8-2. 

In singles, the Raptors claimed five of the six contested matches. Okalava cruised past her opponent 6-1, 6-0 at No. 1, while Houghton posted a convincing 6-0, 6-0 at No. 2. Ries and Popolizio took the victory at No. 3 and No. 5 singles, both winning 6-0, 6-1. Sanchez had to fight for her singles match at No. 4 but eventually defeated her opponent in a 10-point tiebreak, 10-8. Smith fell to her opponent in a close match, 7-5, 6-3. 

It is the first time that the Raptors have won back-to-back matches since the 2019-20 season. 

In its next match, Bard will travel to Lehman on Saturday, September 16, for a noon start.