Hickory, N.C. – The Lenoir-Rhyne Women's Tennis Team (2-2) defeated Belmont Abbey (2-3) by a 7-2 score on Saturday afternoon in the Bears' home opener for the spring season at Hickory High School.

Lenoir-Rhyne swept Belmont Abbey by taking all three doubles matches while sophomores Sara Kalkenova (Astana, KAZAKHSTAN), Emily Murchland (Mount Victoria, NEW ZEALAND), Marta Escanero Funes (Guardamar del Segura, SPAIN) and Taylor Fredrickson (Valdese, N.C.) all won at singles and doubles for the Bears in the win.

Lenoir-Rhyne remains at home next Saturday, February 11, to host Southern Wesleyan at Hickory High School beginning at Noon.  Belmont Abbey, meanwhile, competes next Thursday, February 9, on the road against Augusta (10:00 a.m.) and USC Aiken (3:00 p.m.).

NCAA Division II Women's Tennis Final
Lenoir-Rhyne 7, Belmont Abbey 2
Saturday, February 4, 2017
Hickory, N.C. (Hickory High School)

Singles competition:
1. Aisiri Jandyala (BAC) def. Iulia Ponomareva (LR), 6-3, 6-3
2. Sara Kalkenova (LR) def. Teagan McNamara (BAC), 2-6, 6-3, 6-0
3. Emily Murchland (LR) def. Darian DeFrench (BAC), 6-4, 6-4
4. Marta Escanero Funes (LR) def. Rachele Subik (BAC), 6-1, 6-0
5. Alex Weber (BAC) def. Sophia Aguilar di Camillo (LR), 6-4, 6-7, 10-5
6. Taylor Fredrickson (LR) def. Morgan Zahnd (BAC), 6-0, 6-4

Doubles competition:
1. Iulia Ponomareva/Sara Kalkenova (LR) def. Darian DeFrench/Morgan Zahnd (BAC), 8-4
2. Emily Murchland/Taylor Fredrickson (LR) def. Teagan McNamara/Rachele Subik (BAC), 8-5
3. Marta Escanero Funes/Abbi Wood (LR) def. Alex Weber/Aisiri Jandyala (BAC), 8-6

Records:  Belmont Abbey (2-3), Lenoir-Rhyne (2-2)