Chestnut Hill, Mass. -- Emerson College got strong play at the top of the line-up and cruised to a 7-2 victory over Suffolk University in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference women's tennis opener for both schools at Pine Manor College.

The Lions took the first two doubles matches, and won at first, second, third, fifth, and sixth singles.

The match began with Emerson first year sensations Lacy Russell and Savannah Mosser taking down the Suffolk number one pairing of Alex Hernandez and Lauren Cameron by an 8-4 score. Hernandez and Cameron were each GNAC All-Conference selections in 2009.

 At second doubles Laura Miley and Gina Varamo built a big lead and held on to defeat the Suffolk tandem of Jane Skorobogatova and Lizzy Arkins 8-6.  The Rams managed a point at third doubles when Kelly Conrad and Rebecca Copeland took an 8-4 decision over the Lions' Kelly McCarthy and Kailey Smith.

Zara Neifield got the Lions off on a positive note in the singles matches winning at number six, 6-1, 6-2.  Russell continued her dominance at number one singles by defeating Hernandez 6-0,6-0.  Russell has yet to lose a game in her two collegiate matches, a string of 24 consecutive games.

Alicia Pellerin clinched the match for the Lions at fifth singles with a 6-1, 6-1, victory over Georgia Ward.  Mosser and Miley added Emerson's sixth and seventh points, Mosser with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Cameron, and Miley taking a 7-5, 6-2 win over Conrad.  Varamo lost a shortened match to Copeland for the final result.

Emerson (1-0, 1-0 GNAC) will next play on Thursday at 3:30 against Newbury College at Pine Manor.  Suffolk will host Bridgewater State University on Tuesday at 6:00pm at Belmont Hill School.

(story courtesy of Emerson College Athletic Communications)