HOUGHTON, N.Y. --- The Geneva College women's tennis team opened the 2023 season with a key non-conference victory over Houghton, 8-1, on Friday night.
 
"This was a great first test for us," said Golden Tornadoes head coach Mandee Craft. "Our No. 1 and No. 2 doubles teams were both down 5-2 and battled back to win their matches. We just had a lot of great battles today."
 
Geneva started the match with three wins at doubles. The No. 1 team of sophomore Lauren Estes and junior Delaney Winterhalter were down 5-2 to start the match but rallied for six straight points to win the set 8-5. Freshmen Rachel Hodsden and Isabel Kleiman made their collegiate debut at No. 2 doubles, also starting down 5-2. The rookies battled back for an 8-7 win, taking the tiebreaker 7-2. Sophomores CeJaelyn Perednia and Jenna Allison picked up an 8-3 victory at No. 3 doubles to give the Golden Tornadoes a solid 3-0 lead going into the singles competition.
 
The Golden Tornadoes secured the team win early in singles play as Estes, Kleiman, and senior Ella Miller made quick work of their opponents in two sets at No. 1, No. 4 and No. 6, respectively. Geneva also earned hard fought wins at No. 3 and No. 5 singles to close out the opener on the road.
 
Geneva (1-0) returns to action on Wednesday, September 6, 2023, at 4:30 p.m. on that road at Penn State Behrend in Erie, Pennsylvania.