ANDERSON, S.C. - With a youthful lineup in place, Anderson University women's tennis cruised to a 9-0 season-opening victory over Division II newcomer, Southern Wesleyan, Saturday afternoon at Max Grubbs Memorial Courts.
The victory was AU's first season-opening win since the 2013 season and first over SWU in over five seasons. The Warriors, who began their 2015 slate at Newberry on Friday, dropped to 0-2 on the season.
The Trojans opened the day with back-to-back doubles victories, as newcomer Mairead Cleary and Lindsay Gregory posted an 8-1 victory over SWU's Samantha Powell and Elizabeth Mulker at No. 1, while the Trojan duo of Rebecca Bruning and Alexandra Ebner shut out SWU's Abbey Coker and Kaycee Blackwell at No. 2, 8-0. The doubles pair of Abigail Gregory and Carolina Lima won by forfeit at No. 3.
Anderson continued to add to its lead in the singles round, as Cleary, Ebner and Lindsay Gregory all won by 6-0, 6-0 decisions through the middle of the lineup. Bruning was the lone Trojan to win by giving up a game, sweeping Powell, 6-0, 6-1 at the No. 1 position. Abigail Gregory and Lima won at No. 5 and at No. 6, respectively, by forfeit.
The Black and Gold are scheduled to get back on the courts on Wednesday when they head to Columbia College. The first serve from the capital is slated for 4 p.m.
