SMITHFIELD, R.I. – A tightly contested match went in Bryant's favor as Rhode Island was edged 4-3 Tuesday afternoon.

The host Bulldogs (9-6) took the doubles point by winning at the top two spots. URI (14-3) got a win from Klara Nelander and Sophie Herrman, but the Rams trailed 1-0 heading into singles play.

Nelander accounted for two team points when she outlasted Lisa Marie Dugec in the most competitive match of the day. Playing at No. 6 singles, Nelander won her 40th career singles match by beating Dugec in three sets, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.

Rhode Island also got straight set wis from Katharina Spieth at No. 1 singles and Nikki Fernando at No. 3 singles. Spieth defeated Natalia Vela 6-2, 6-3, while Fernando beat Caitlyn Munson 6-2, 6-1.

"Congratulations to Bryant, they outcompeted us at some spots," Rhode Island head coach Jonas Brobeck said. "We need to learn from this quickly and get back to work."

Rhode Island is scheduled to host Atlantic 10 rival Fordham at the URI Tennis Complex Saturday, April 5 at 1 p.m. Any potential weather-related schedule changes will be posted to GoRhody.com.
 

Bryant 4, Rhode Island 3
Singles
Katharina Spieth (URI) def. Natalia Vela (Bryant); 6-2, 6-3
Yahli Noy (Bryant) def. Sophie Herrman (URI); 6-3, 6-2
Nikki Fernando (URI) def. Caitlyn Munson (Bryant); 6-2, 6-1
Maria Jose Hernandez Diaz (Bryant) def. Grace Darcy (URI); 6-2, 6-1
Aurora Pedwell (Bryant) def. Anastasia Pettersson (URI); 7-6 (5), 6-1
Klara Nelander (URI) def. Lisa Marie Dugec (Bryant); 4-6, 6-2, 6-3

Doubles
Natalia Vela/Maria Jose Hernandez Diaz (Bryant) def. Nikki Fernando/Katharina Spieth (URI); 6-2
Caitlyn Munson/Yahli Noy (Bryant) def. Grace Darcy/Anastasia Pettersson (URI); 6-3
Klara Nelander/Sophie Herrman (URI) def. Nicole Isman/Lucia Pino (Bryant); 6-1