It all came down to the fourth court, where the match was in the third set by the time the rest had finished. Steinroeder led Bulldog senior Zach White, 3-2 and 40-15, in the deciding set, but White rallied to take the game. He wouldn’t drop another, and came away with a 6-4, 5-6(1), 6-3 win.

It was a disappointing end to the day, but things are looking up for the Crimson, which is looking to claim its third straight Ivy League title this season.

In its singles lineup, the team is already starting three freshmen, who will look to be serious contributors this season.

“It’s very unusual to have three freshmen start this early, especially on a team that is already so solid,” Fish said. “But these guys are good, and they’re definitely going to help us in singles and doubles.”

Facing top competition early will help the team better prepare for the spring season, according to Steinroeder.

“We are disappointed in the results from the weekend, but proud of the way we competed and fought against two very strong teams in both matches,” he said. “We will use it as a learning tool and use the lessons from the weekend to get better for the rest of the season.”

—Staff writer Justin C. Wong can be reached at justin.wong@thecrimson.com.