The Utica College women's tennis team lost to visiting Hartwick College 9-0 in Empire 8 Conference action Wednesday afternoon in the season-opener for both squads at the Utica College tennis courts.

With the loss UC drops to 0-1 overall, while the Hawks improved to 1-0 on the year. The Pioneers return to action Saturday when they take on visiting Elmira College at 1 p.m.

Hartwick swept all three doubles competitions with the tandem of Betsy Breaznell and Jen Lin teaming up to knock off Nicole Rodriguez (Jamestown/Jamestown) and Mercy Tomy (Notre Dame/New Hartford) 8-2 in first doubles. Anne Neely and Callie McAloon followed suit in second doubles defeating UC's team of Juanita Fuentes (Proctor/Utica) and Diana Piekielniek (Proctor/Utica), 8-3. The “Wick completed the doubles sweep when Carly Jesset and Christina Sorrentino teamed up to defeat Johanna Jennings (Windsor/Kirkwood) and Lien Vu (Protor/Utica) 8-1.

The six singles matches were much of the same as the Pioneers mustered just nine game victories total. Breaznell knocked off Fuentes 6-2, 6-0 in first singles, followed by Jen Lin defeating Rodriguez 6-1, 6-0 in second singles. Neely clipped Tomy 6-0, 6-2 in third singles, before McAloon defeated Jennings 6-0, 6-0 in fourth singles. Chornay Prawl (Pleasant Valley/Kunkletown, PA) won a team-high three games for UC but it was not enough as she lost in straight sets 6-1, 6-2 at fifth singles. Hartwick's Carly Jesset completed the clean sweep with a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Piekielniak in sixth singles to close out the scoring on the day.

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