The Dominican University women's tennis team opened the 2014 season on Thursday evening, falling to the North Park University Vikings 7-2 in non-conference action.  Freshman Carmelita Villalobos (Addison, Ill.), playing in her first collegiate match, picked up a pair of points for the Stars.
 
Playing at number three doubles with fellow freshman Morganne Schmidt (West Dundee, Ill.), Villalobos helped the Stars to an 8-5 win over the Vikings' tandem of Danielle Pivonka and Juviel Vinluan.  Villalobos carried that momentum over into singles action, topping Pivonka 6-2, 6-1 at number four singles.
 
Megan Hickey (Plainfield, Ill.), the 2013 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) Freshman of the Year, dropped a tightly contested match at number two singles, falling to Garette Gessert, 6-4, 6-3.
 
"We actually matched up better than the scores reflect," said second-year head coach Rebecca Morgan.  "I'd expect us to pull out  wins at a couple of more flights if we were to play this match later in the year."
 
The Stars do not have to sit on the loss long, returning to action and opening NACC play on Saturday when Dominican hosts the Marian University Sabres and Lakeland College Muskies.