MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (Sept. 12) – The California University of Pennsylvania tennis team claimed five of six singles matches en route to a 6-1 victory over Presbyterian College (S.C.) on Friday at the RidgeView Racquet Club.

The dual match was the first of the 2008-09 season for the Vulcans, who posted a 26-3 overall record and qualified for the round of 16 in the NCAA Tournament last year.

The Vulcans opened the match in dominant fashion, winning all three doubles matches. The tandem of junior Helena VanEysendeyk (Meythet, France/Zurich International) and freshman Alina Stanila (Alexandria, Romania/Technical) opened with an 8-5 victory of the Blue Hose's duo of junior junior Virginia Waldron and freshman Heather Isbell 8-5 at the first slot.

Sophomores Nina Kowalski (Hofheim, Germany/Man Taunus) and Galina Vishnikina (Almaty, Kazakhstan/Sport Military) earned an 8-4 victory over freshman Paige Oelke and Cara Caruso at No. 2 doubles. Sophomore Laurie Navarro (Eysus, France/Lycee Jules Supervielle) and freshman Axelle Fernandez (Nice, France/Institut Familial) completed the Cal U sweep in doubles play at the third position by topping senior Abby Diminich and junior Megan Davis by an 8-4 count.

Cal U continued its strong play in singles action, wining all five of its matches in straight sets. VanEysendeyk posted a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Diminich at No. 1 singles, while Stanila earned a 6-0, 6-0 win over Caruso at the second slot. Kowalski scored a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Isbell at third singles and Vishnikina tallied a win over Davis at the fourth slot.

Freshman Mariana Oliveira (Sao Paulo, Brazil/Martha Falcao) added a 6-2, 6-2 victory for the Vulcans over freshman Daryl Thompson at No. 6 singles.

Cal U returns to action tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 13, when they travel to Villanova University, a Division I opponent and member of the Big East, for a 10 a.m. match in Villanova, Pa.

California (Pa.) 6, Presbyterian (S.C.) 1
Singles
No. 1 – Helena VanEysendeyk (CAL) def. Abby Diminich 6-3, 6-1
No. 2 – Alina Stanila (CAL) def. Cara Caruso 6-0, 6-0
No. 3 – Nina Kowalski (CAL) def. Heather Isbell 6-2, 6-3
No. 4 – Galina Vishnikina (CAL) def. Megan Davis 6-3, 6-0
No. 5 – Paige Oelke (PRE) def. Axelle Marciel-Fernandez 6-4, 6-2
No. 6 – Mariana Oliveira (CAL) def. Daryl Thompson 6-2, 6-2

Doubles
No. 1 – VanEysendeyk/Stanila (CAL) def. Virginia Waldron/Isbell 8-5
No. 2 – Kowalski/Vishnikina (CAL) def. Oelke/Caruso 8-4
No. 3 – Laurie Navarro/Marciel-Fernandez (CAL) def. Diminich/Davis 8-4