LEWISTON, Maine -- Playing its second match in as many days, Bates College women's tennis lifted the lid on the NESCAC portion of its spring calendar as the Bobcats welcomed #8 Tufts to the Merrill Gymnasium Saturday.

The visiting Jumbos, playing their first dual match of the season, left Lewiston with a 7-2 win to go to 1-0 on the year. The garnet-and-white sees its record slide to 2-3.

Despite the overall outcome, Joanna Atwater (Sr.-Short Hills, N.J.) provided an outstanding showing for the Bobcats as the senior contributed to both points for Bates. Atwater teamed up with doubles partner, Ally Friedman (Jr.-East Hampton, N.Y.), for a victory in the #1 slot before going solo and also winning her match at  #2 singles.

Atwater and Friedman sent off Tufts' Rachel Cranley and Tilly Rigby with a swift score of 8-2. In singles play, Atwater would square off vs. Cranley once again, this time coasting to a 6-1, 6-3 triumph vs. the first-year member of the Jumbos.

Other results include:

Doubles
(#2) Kava/Wax (Tufts) def. Laura Littlefield/Grace Kennedy (Bates): 8-5
(#3) Garrido/Suk (Tufts) def. Elizabeth Frekko/Isabella Saul (Bates): 8-2

Singles
(#1) Wax (Tufts) def. Friedman (Bates): 6-3, 6-4
(#3) Mitchell (Tufts) def. Littlefield (Bates): 6-2, 6-2
(#4) Lim (Tufts) def. Alexandra D'Aquino (Bates): 6-4, 6-4
(#5) Suk (Tufts) def. Ava Lyon (Bates): 6-1, 6-3
(#6) Kava (Tufts) def. Drew Williams (Bates): 6-3, 7-6 (7-4)

The Bobcats return to action next Saturday with another home NESCAC match, this time vs. #13 Williams. Start time is set for 10:00 a.m., again in Merrill Gymnasium.