WISE, Va. - The Lenoir-Rhyne Women's Tennis Team handled UVA-Wise in their SAC opener with a 7-0 sweep.
In singles, Evgeniya Pugina was the only member of the Bears that needed a third set to pull out her victory. After the sophomore dropped the opening set, 2-6, Pugina was able to bounce back with commanding set victories of 6-1 in the second and 6-0 in the third.
Every other Bear had comfortable victories in singles with Alicia Wahlberg taking No. 2 singles in a 6-2, 6-2 result with Lucy Whelan coasting to a 6-0, 6-1 victory in No. 3 singles.
In No. 5 singles, Evelin Menyhart had some more competitive sets compared to her counterparts, but still had a few breaks in her match to take a 6-3, 6-4 decision.
No. 4 and No. 6 singles were completed in a pro-set style format, but that change did not affect Natalie Lutz with an 8-0 set win and Dawson Clifford with an 8-5 final, respectively.
The only match the Cavaliers took on the day was No. 1 doubles, a 6-4 result against the Bears' Whelan and Wahlberg. However, with a pair of 6-2 victories at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles, the Bears were still able to capture the doubles point.
The women's tennis squad will return to action on Sunday, Feb. 19 as their non-conference slate resumes against Charleston in West Virginia, with the match slated for a 1:00 p.m. start.
