WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - The visiting Western Connecticut State University Wolves suffered their first loss of the season, dropping a 5-4 decision against the University of St. Joseph Bluejays this afternoon at Elizabeth Ferry Speer Complex.  WestConn falls to 3-1 heading into a home match against SUNY Purchase tomorrow at 4 p.m., while St. Joseph wins its second in a row to improve to 2-3.  Juniors Bodhi Kitt (Norwalk, Conn.) and Melanie Grasso (New Fairfield, Conn.) won in singles and together as a doubles pair for the Wolves.

Grasso/Kitt doubled up their opponents at first doubles, 8-4, for their third consecutive victory as a tandem, while Gia Alvarez and Nina Gardella edged WestConn junior Brooke Stillman (Brookfield, Conn.) and sophomore Aylina Razeq (Danbury, Conn.) at the No. 3 position to take two of the three doubles points. Razeq/Stillman came one point shy of a tiebreaker in Razeq's first action of the fall.  Kitt, the reigning Little East Conference Player  of the Week, continued her dominant play with a 6-2, 6-1 victory at the top of the ladder, while Grasso was nearly perfect in her 6-0, 6-1 triumph at second singles.  

The Bluejays took the No. 3 and No. 6 matches in straight sets, but WestConn;s two remaining singles players won their opening sets, including senior Natalie Paradise (Naugatuck, Conn.), who won hers, 8-6. on a tiebreaker in the No. 4 spot. Stillman took her first set, 6-3, at sixth singles but Anna Nemergut rallied for a 6-4 win in the second set and Stillman fell short on the 10-point tiebreaker.  Paradise bested Alvarez, 6-3, in her second set to account for the 5-4 final tally.  

"It was a great effort by our team today despite missing three starters due to class," said WestConn Head Coach Shawn Stillman. "That's certainly no excuse though as our team fought hard and played very well up to the final court."