Florence, S.C.- Lenoir-Rhyne Women's Tennis opened the season firing at Francis Marion winning 5-2 Wednesday afternoon.

The day started off with doubles and Lenoir-Rhyne got hot winning two straight doubles matches. Alicia Wahlberg and Diana Babinets were able to defeat Yakhyaeva/Eggert 6-0  and Gemma Southwick and Lucy Whelan would not be outmatched downing Zannier/Cassetori 6-0 as well to give LR the doubles point. Sandy Mitsou and Evelin Menyhart would fall to Mikael/ Leth 6-0 to put the score at (1-0).

Singles were next and LR continued their momentum from the double portions of the match. Wahlberg, a freshman, took home her first collegiate win knocking off Eggert 6-0, 6-0 (2-0). Southwick then continued her elite play defeating Zannier 6-1,6-0 (3-0). Southwick has now won seven matches in a row dating back to last season. Whelan would then topple Cassetori 6-1, 6-0  securing the victory for LR (4-0).

Head Coach Jesse Tarr commented on today's win.

"Really proud of our teams today," Tarr said. "With almost a year lay off, we may not have played our very best tennis, but we were tough and completed great against a solid Francis Marion team."

The Bears will be back in action on Tuesday, February 23 at home against Lander.



Lenoir-Rhyne University 5, Francis Marion University 2

Singles competition
1. Gemma Southwick (LRUW) def. Eva Zannier (FMUW) 6-1, 6-0
2. Hermon Mikael (FMUW) def. Evelin Menyhart (LRUW) 6-3, 6-3
3. Viktoria Leth (FMUW) def. Sandy Mitsou (LRUW) 7-6 (7-2), 6-2
4. Lucy Whelan (LRUW) def. Camryn Cassetori (FMUW) 6-1, 6-0
5. Diana Babinets (LRUW) def. Nargiza Yakhyaeva (FMUW) 7-5, 6-3
6. Alicia Wahlberg (LRUW) def. Kailey Eggert (FMUW) 6-0, 6-0

Doubles competition
1. Hermon Mikael/Viktoria Leth (FMUW) def. Sandy Mitsou/Evelin Menyhart (LRUW) 6-0
2. Gemma Southwick/Lucy Whelan (LRUW) def. Eva Zannier/Camryn Cassetori (FMUW) 6-0
3. Alicia Wahlberg/Diana Babinets (LRUW) def. Nargiza Yakhyaeva/Kailey Eggert (FMUW) 6-0
 
Match Notes: Lenoir-Rhyne University 1-0
Francis Marion University 0-2
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (6,1,4,2,5,3)