HICKORY, N.C. - In their first home match of the spring, Lenoir-Rhyne women's tennis took care of business with a clean sweep of West Virginia State on Saturday afternoon. The Bears had a couple close calls in singles, but were able to find a way to win every single flight against the Yellow Jackets. 

In doubles, Alicia Wahlberg and Diana Babinets won at No. 1 6-4. At No. 2, it was Gemma Southwick and Lucy Whelan taking care of business 6-3, and Sandy Mitsou and Evgeniya Pugina at No. 3 with the 6-4 win.

The singles round was highlighted by a ferocious comeback by Southwick at No. 1. The senior from Mitcham, United Kingdom lost the first set to Gaya Solomon 6-0, but then fought back to win the second set 7-5. The third set was a marathon that Southwick won 10-8 to complete the comeback. 

Pugina also won a three-set match at No. 2 singles, 6-1, 0-6, 7-5. Wahlberg won in straight sets at No. 3 singles, as did Babinets at No. 4. Whelan and Mitsou added straight set victories at No. 5 and 6 singles to round out the victory for the Bears. 

LR improves to 5-2 overall and will be in action next on Tuesday (Feb. 22) when they host Lees-McRae in a makeup match after the originally scheduled match last Thursday was rained out.