SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Benedict College women's tennis team opened the 2019 season by dropping a 6-0 decision to Converse College on Tuesday afternoon.

The Lady Tigers started the match shorthanded and forfeited two singles and one doubles match.

Freshman Beverly Matsiwe played well in her collegiate debut, leading Converse's No. 1 player, Steffi Kong, 6-2, 4-1 before the match was retired. Freshman Karina Izakova rallied from a 6-1 deficit in the first set to win the second set 7-5 before falling 10-8 in a close tiebreaker at No. 2 singles.

The Lady Tigers have their home opener on Friday against USC Aiken at 2 p.m. at the Columbia Tennis Center.