Worcester, Mass. – In one of the most intense matches in recent memory, Clark University women's tennis kicked off the 2015 season with a thrilling, down-to-the wire 5-4 win over Rhode Island College in non-league action on Tuesday evening at the Corash Tennis Courts.

The win for the Cougars not only gives them their third season-opening win in the last four seasons, but it gives newly minted head coach Daniel Herbst his first career victory.

Sophomore sensation Isabelle Long (Bellevue, Wash.) sealed the match – which was tied at 4-4 – with her 6-4, 7-6 (8-6) win over Dayna Reilly at No. 1 singles.

Down 1-0 after Rhode Island College's Jorgie Martin and Laura Natasi topped Stephanie Gallant (Charlton, Mass.) and Emily Schuman (Needham, Mass.) 8-3 at No. 3 doubles, the Scarlet and White stormed back, with Long and Adrien Horowitz (Arvada, Colo.) teaming up to take down Julie Reddy and Reilly, 8-5 at No.1.

Rebecca Kravetz (Wayland, Mass.) and Kera Snyder (Portland, Maine) then combined to edge past Sadie Campanella and Noelle Tiberi, 9-7 at No. 2.

Ahead 2-1 heading into singles action, the Cougars saw Reddy breeze past Snyder at No. 3, 6-0, 6-1 and Tressa Cannata make quick work of Kravetz at No. 4, 6-1, 6-1. Then Natasi took a tiebreaker with Horowitz at No. 5, topping the first-year, 6-3, 7-6 (7-2).

Clark responded as Schuman collected her first career singles win with a 6-0, 6-4 triumph over Campanella at No. 2 and then Misa Mai (Sanford, Maine) got in on the act with a 6-4, 6-3 win at No. 6, setting up Long's thrilling victory.

Both teams are back in action on Thursday with road contests. Rhode Island College heads to Salve Regina, while the Scarlet and White face off with Nichols College in Dudley.