Utica, NY - The Utica College women's tennis team faced Empire 8 opponent Alfred on Saturday at home. The Pioneers won their first match of the season, 5-4. The team's record improves to 1-3 overall and 1-2 in conference play. 

During singles competition the team's split, scoring three a-piece. Julianne Pieros (Alpha, NJ/Phillipsburg) won 6-4, 1-6, 6-0 in the second singles match. Lulu Zhang (Wenzhou, China/Newcomers) defeated Alfred's Miranda Sakala 6-1, 6-1 in third singles. Shannon Fillmore (Somerset, NJ/Franklin) also earned a victory in singles play, winning fourth singles after a tiebreaker in the third set.

Sara Gribanoff (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) and Madeline McIlnay (York, PA/York Suburban) earned their first doubles win of the season, 8-6. Pieros and Zhang took care of business in the second doubles match. The duo defeated Alfred's Nurila Kambar and Amber Smith, 8-0.

After coming away with its first win of the season, UC will be at it again Sunday for more Empire 8 play. The Pioneers will be hosting Nazareth College, beginning at 1 p.m.