NEW ORLEANS - The University of New Orleans women's tennis team dropped their first dual match of the season, falling to North Texas 7-0 at the University Tennis Center on Saturday afternoon.

UNO, which was playing its first match since the 2004-05 season after being placed on hiatus in wake of hurricane Katrina, dropped to 0-1 while NT won their first dual match of the season, in what was the opener for both teams.

The No. 1 singles' match between Kir Kemp and regionally-ranked Madura Ranganathan went three sets with the 16th ranked Rangnathan prevailing 6-0, 4-6, 7-6 (13).

Ceara Howey also forced a third set after falling in the first contested set. The freshman from England fell to Catalina Cruz 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (9) in the No. 4 singles match.

The highlight of the doubles' competition came when Kozue Matsumoto and Cassandra Escobar forced the eighth-ranked team in the region to a tiebreaker, falling 9-8 (3) to Ranganathan and Irina Paraschiv in the No. 1 doubles spot.

UNO will look to rebound against Tulane on Thursday at 2 p.m. Like the Privateers, the Green Wave tennis program was also reinstated this year following a short hiatus in wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Singles competition
1. Madura Ranganathan (NT) def. Kir Kemp (UNO) 6-0, 4-6, 7-6 (13)
2. Irina Paraschiv (NT) def. Cassandra Escobar (UNO) 6-1, 6-3
3. Paula Dinuta (NT) def. Kozue Matsumoto (UNO) 6-3, 6-2
4. Catalina Cruz (NT) def. Ceara Howey (UNO) 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (9)
5. Amy Joubert (NT) def. Sofija Karalic (UNO) 6-0, 1-6, 6-1
6. Narine Kazarova (NT) def. Amber Garza (UNO) 6-0, 6-3

Doubles competition
1. Madura Ranganathan/Irina Paraschiv (NT) def. Kozue Matsumoto/Cassandra Escobar (UNO) 9-8 (3)
2. Amy Joubert/Rachel Wilhelm (NT) def. Ceara Howey/Amber Garza (UNO) 8-3
3. Narine Kazarova/Catalina Cruz (NT) def. Kir Kemp/Sofija Karalic (UNO) 8-3