LEWISBURG, Pa. – It was a strong start to Patriot League play for the Navy women's tennis team on Saturday, as the Midshipmen prevailed in a 6-1 victory over Lehigh at the Lewis Indoor Tennis Center in Bethlehem, Pa.
 
Improving to 11-9 overall and 1-0 in the league, the Mids claimed its fourth-straight Patriot League opener, while the Mountain Hawks shifted to 7-4 on the year and 0-1 in league action.
 
Despite Lehigh beginning the match with Audrey Harrington and Hamsa Javagal picking up a 6-1 win over freshmen Molly Bellia and Grace Li on the third court, the Mids responded by the top pairing of senior Emily Tannenbaum and sophomore Olivia Fermo knocking off Maggie Forkner and Allyce Gaborik, 6-1, and the duo of sophomore Manci Pal and rookie Emma Gu notching a 6-4 win over the No. 2 Lehigh team of Ronit Khromchenko and Alina Shyani to clinch the doubles point.
 
Navy continued to build its lead in singles play with senior Sylvia Eklund earning a 6-2, 6-1 victory in the No. 5 spot over Gaborik, and Bellia followed suit with a 6-2, 6-2 win against Gisella Vlassis on the fourth court.
 
Tannenbaum sealed the team win when she beat Javagal, 7-5, 6-1, in the top matchup, but Forkner put Lehigh on the board with a 6-1, 7-6 (7-2) decision over Li at the No. 2 position.
 
Playing out the match, Gu posted a 6-4, 2-6, 7-5 victory against Shyani on the third court while senior captain Kate Lee tallied a 2-6, 6-4, 7-5 in the sixth flight over Khromchenko.
 
Coach Keith Puryear Comments
"We had a great, hard-fought win today. Lehigh is a very talented team and it was a tale of two matches. In doubles, conditions were great with very little wind. After doubles ended, it picked up and really factored into the matches. We did a great job of dealing with the conditions and keeping our bearing. Bucknell presents another challenge that we'll face head on tomorrow, as we are looking forward to another opportunity to compete."
 
Match Notes
• Navy is now 17-0 in the all-time series with Lehigh.
• Tannenbaum is now four doubles wins away from breaking the program single-season record of 24.
• Tannenbaum also needs two more wins at the No. 1 doubles spot to break the program career record of 23.
• Tannenbaum has won her last four completed singles matches, while Lee and Eklund have won each of their last three singles matches.
• Tannenbaum and Fermo have posted four-straight doubles victories.
 
Up Next
Navy heads to South Williamsport, Pa., for a noon showdown with Bucknell on Sunday.