WOMEN’S TENNIS TEAM OPENS SEASON WITH 6-1 LOSS AT BELMONT

NASHVILLE, Tenn., – The University of North Alabama women’s tennis team opened the 2010 season Friday with a 6-1 loss at Belmont at the Wildwood Club just outside of Nashville. Using Division I rules, the Bruins (1-2) picked up a single point after winning two of the three doubles matches, then posted wins 5-of-6 matches in singles play.

The two teams split doubles matches at the No. 2 and No. 3 spots. After the Lions lost the third position by an 8-2 score, North Alabama’s Teresa Franco and Lenka Hola evened the score with an 8-6 win at the No. 2 spot. At the No. 1 position, the Lions’ Mallory Waites and Victoria Rees went the distance before falling 9-8 to give Belmont the early 1-0 advantage in the match.

In singles play, Belmont took advantage of straight-set wins at the three, four, five and six positions. Rees came up on the short end of a 4-6, 7-5 (10-6) decision at the top sport while Waites rallied at No. 2 with a 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory.

The UNA women will return to Nashville with the Lion men’s team on Feb. 12 to take on Lipscomb. Match time is set for 6 p.m.

BELMONT 6, NORTH ALABAMA 1

DOUBLES
No.1 - Leatherwood/Stack (BEL) def. Rees/Waites (UNA) 9-8
No. 2 - Franco/Hola (UNA) def. Hogan/Nunes (BEL) 8-6
No. 3 - Holliday/Bennett (BEL) def. Keehn/Alfonso (UNA) 8-2

SINGLES
No.1 - Leatherwood (BEL) def. Rees (UNA) 3-6, 7-5, 1-0 (10-6)
No.2 - Waites (UNA) def. Stack (BEL) 4-6, 6-3, 7-5
No.3 - Bennett (BEL) def. Hola (UNA) 6-1, 6-1
No.4 - Holliday (BEL) def. Franco (UNA) 6-2, 6-4
No.5 - Hogan (BEL) def. Keehn (UNA) 6-1, 6-1
No.6 - Nunes (BEL) def. Alfonso (UNA) 6-1, 6-0