The fourth-ranked Emory University women's tennis team started its 2013 spring campaign with a dominating win over a higher-division opponent on Saturday afternoon, defeating NCAA Division II Clayton State University 9-0 at the Woodruff Physical Education Center.

The victory was highlighted by Emory's freshman class, which combined to go 4-0 in singles matches, and constituted five of the six players on Emory's three winning doubles teams in their spring-season debuts.

The Eagles started the match strong with a sweep in doubles action.  Finishing first was Emory's duo of junior Gabrielle Clark and freshman Annette Sullivan, who bested Clayton State's Hannah Keeling and Zinnia Leamana by an 8-2 score at first singles.  Freshmen Madison Gordon and Beatrice Rosen followed shortly thereafter with an 8-5 win at third doubles over Charlotte Fabricius and Raluca Pavel.  Rounding out doubles action were freshmen Stephanie Loutsenko and Emma Taylor, who earned an 8-3 win over Jessica Budd and Martina Dedaj at second doubles.

Emory's success continued into singles play, where Rosen struck the first blow for the team, winning 6-0, 6-0 over Leamana at third singles.  Loutsenko followed at fifth singles with a 6-0, 6-3 win over Budd, and Taylor delivered a 6-0, 6-2 win at sixth singles. 

The Eagles' veterans registered the next two victory for Emory, with Clark claiming a 6-3, 6-2 first singles win over Keeling, and senior co-captain Jordan Wylie winning 6-0, 6-3 over Dedaj at second singles.

Sullivan completed the shutout for the Eagles with a three-set victory over Pavel at fourth singles, winning 6-2, 3-6, 10-8.

The Eagles now stand at 1-0 for the campaign, while the Lakers dropped to 0-1.  It was Emory's first win over Clayton State since the 2006 season, ending a streak of five-straight losses to the D-II squad.  The Eagles are now 4-5 all-time against the Lakers.

Emory will be back in action on Wednesday, February 20^th, hosting Shorter University at 3:30 PM.