BRIGHTON, Mass. -- The Wheaton College (Mass.) women's tennis team featured five double-winners in an 8-1 victory over host Simmons University this afternoon at the Daly Tennis Courts in Brighton, Mass.
The Lyons are now 1-0 on the season, while the Sharks fall to 4-2.
First year Alissa Ortiz (El Paso, Texas) earned her first collegiate win for Wheaton, combining with junior Mareike Mueller (Amesbury, Mass.) at number one doubles for an 8-0 pro-set triumph over Simmons senior Libby Weed (Brooksville, Maine) and sophomore Avery Halloran (Southington, Conn.).
Ortiz picked up her first singles win with a 7-5, 6-1 straight set decision over Weed to give the Lyons a 7-1 lead in the match. Mueller was also victorious in singles play for Wheaton, defeating Halloran at number three singles, 6-3, 6-1.
Lyons' sophomore Izzy Kruse (Woodstock, Ga.) teamed with first year Kara Greenlee (San Antonio, Texas) to match the number one double's team's effort with an 8-0 win of their own over Sharks senior Samantha Margolin (Ridgefield, Conn.) and first year Annabelle Halloran (Mill Valley, Calif.) at second doubles. Greenlee added to her first collegiate win with another in singles play for Wheaton, taking down Annabelle Halloran in a gritty three-set showdown at number two, dropping the opening set, 7-5, before rebounding to take the middle frame in easy fashion, 6-1, and the final super-tie breaker set, 10-3. Kruse also won her singles contest for the Lyons with a 6-3, 6-0 effort over Margolin at fourth singles.
Wheaton junior Zoe West (Flushing, N.Y.) joined first year Tessa Hammond (Edgartown, Mass.) for an 8-3 win at number three to sweep doubles play for the visitors. The pair downed the Simmons duo of senior Mary Miller (Newon, N.H.) and junior Sara Fucillo (Winthrop, Mass.). West cruised at fifth singles for the Lyons, dropping just one game in a 6-1, 6-0 showing over Sharks sophomore Julia Perconti (Hancock, Maine).
Simmons picked up its lone point of the match at sixth singles with sophomore Emily Lopez (Stamford, Conn.) battling Wheaton first year Haylee Doiron (Lowell, Mass.) to a 7-6 (5), 7-5 win.
The Lyons return to the courts on Tuesday, September 27 when they host Assumption University on the Clark Tennis Courts at 4:00 p.m., while the Sharks head to Northampton, Mass. to take on Smith College on September 17 at 12:00 p.m.
