BEAVER FALLS, Pa. – The Geneva College women's tennis team was the first Golden Tornado squad to begin play this school year, and the women did so impressively with a 7-0 sweep of Carlow on Thursday night at Blackhawk Courts.

This season the Golden Tornadoes are playing under the rule that doubles play counts as just one point, with the team that secures at least two of the three doubles matches earning that point.  Geneva managed to win all three just for good measure, though the teams actually started the match with singles play in case rain came later in the evening.  Fortunately the rain held off.

Freshman Chloe DeSanzo did not disappoint in her collegiate debut after a stellar high school career.  DeSanzo stepped into the first flight for Geneva and cruised in her singles match 6-0, 6-0.  Junior Lauren Estes, after playing in the first flight her first two years, moved into the second flight and easily won her match 6-1, 6-2.  Senior Delaney Winterhalter opened her final season with a 6-1, 6-1 win in No. 3 singles.

The final three singles flights fared just as well.  Sophomore Rachel Hodsden won 6-2, 6-3 in No. 4 singles, while sophomore Isabel Kleiman took No. 5 singles by the same 6-2, 6-3 score.  Junior Jenna Allison wrapped up singles play with a 6-1, 6-1 victory in the sixth flight.

Doubles play went just as well, with the teams playing each match to six points this year instead of eight points.  DeSanzo and Estes won 6-2 in the first flight.  Winterhalter and Hodsden teamed to take No. 2 doubles 6-3, while Kleiman and junior CeJaelyn Perednia won 6-2 in No. 3 doubles.

"Carlow is always a solid match to get some good competition and see where we are," said Head Coach Mandee Craft.  "We found a few things to work on, but it was encouraging to get a nice win moving forward."

The women will be off for several days before they head to Mount Aloysius on Saturday, September 7, for a 12:00 p.m. match.