VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Georgia College Women's Tennis team (0-1) came up short 4-1 in a season opener at Valdosta State University (1-0) Friday.

VSU won the doubles point with victories in the first and third slots. Juniors Kim Yatribi (Frejus, France) and Emily Pope (Canton) lost to Rachelle Starreveld and Rachel Chan-Yaneff via shutout in the third slot. In first doubles, sophomores Jordan Bowie (Macon) and Emma Fleming (Suwanee) lost a 6-4 battle to Estee Widdershoven and Eva Rivoal.

The Blazers took a 2-0 lead in sixth singles, where Pope lost to Chan-Yaneff in a shutout. Next came the third slot, where Julia Saving beat sophomore Irina Berklich (Sandy Springs) 7-5, 6-1.

Yatribi nabbed the team's first point of the match, taking down Widdershoven 6-0, 6-2 in the first slot. Fifth singles closed out the day, as newcomer Tyla Carter lost to Starreveld 6-4, 7-6.

The Bobcats will stay in Valdosta tomorrow, Feb. 8 taking on No. 5 Nova Southeastern University at 10 a.m.

The Georgia College Department of Athletics, two-time winners of the PBC Commissioner Cup and the 2017 PBC Sportsmanship Institution of the Year, sponsors 11 varsity athletic programs at the NCAA Division II level. As a Division II program, Bobcat Athletics prides itself on balancing the life of the student-athlete, evidenced by the teams multiple appearances in post-season competition as well as documented academic success and community-service involvement. Sign up at @GCBobcats on Twitter and Facebook for up- to-the- minute reports, and visit GCBobcats.PhotoReflect.com to purchase photo prints from home athletic contests.