BOSTON, Mass. – The Emerson College women's tennis team opened its season in convincing fashion by defeating Wentworth Institute of Technology, 9-0, in a non-conference match played at the Sportsmen's Tennis Club.

The Lions took an 8-0 win at number one doubles to set the tone as freshman Lacey Russell (Roswell, Ga.) teamed with classmate Savannah Mosser (Malibu, Calif.) to defeat Leopard junior Joanna Gustafson (Ashburnham, Mass.) and senior Meredith Gratton (West Chazy, N.Y.).  Emerson took the number three doubles flight by an 8-3 score as freshman Alicia Pellegrin (San Antonio, Texas) and senior Kelly McCarthy (Saugus, Mass.) downed freshman Olivia Hegner (Medford, Mass.) and sophomore Sophie Boyce (South Portland, Maine).  The closest match of the day came at number two doubles when sophomore Gina Varamo (Washington, N.J.) and senior Kailey Smith (Madison, Maine) defeated sophomores Natalya Cappellini (Falmouth, Mass.) and Lana Ho (Vineyard Haven, Mass.), 8-6.

Russell defeated Cappellini, 6-0, 6-0, and number one singles before Mosser's 6-1, 6-0 win over Gustafson at number two singles clinched the match for the Lions.  McCarthy would defeat Ho, 6-0, 6-4, at number five singles with Pellegrin defeating Hegner, 6-2, 6-1, at number four singles.  Emerson completed the sweep with Varamo defeating Gratton, 6-3, 6-1, at number three singles, and Smith defeating freshman Alexis Cristaldi (Methuen, Mass.) in a 7-6 (7-2) shortened match.

The Leopards, now 1-2 on the season resume The Commonwealth Coast Conference play Saturday with a home match against Western New England.  That same day, Emerson opens Great Northeast Athletic Conference play with a 1:30 p.m. home match against Suffolk.