• Box Score

HARMAR, Pa. (Feb. 3) – After winning the doubles point, the No. 11 Vulcans opened their spring season on Friday afternoon with a 5-2 victory over Duquesne at the Alpha Tennis Club.

With the victory, the California University of Pennsylvania tennis team improves to 4-0 overall in dual matches. Meanwhile, Duquesne falls to 1-2 this year.

In doubles, seniors Martina Rubesova (Usti nad Labem, Czech Republic) and Franziska Steinhardt (Bad Lausick, Germany/St. Augustin Gymnasium) fell 9-8 to Vanessa Steiner and Chandler Consonery. Senior Annabel Pieschl (Gothenburg, Sweden/Katrinelund) and junior Jade Pondicas (Johannesburg, South Africa/British International Distance) blanked the Dukes' Judy Li and Alrissa Tobbe at the second slot by an 8-0 count, while senior Anastassiya Zherdeva (Almaty, Kazakhstan/Gumnasia Number 60) and freshman Ramona Czakon earned an 8-5 victory over Tara Majdalani and Paula Gruber at third doubles.

At first singles, No. 12-ranked Rubesova rallied to a tiebreaker victory over Steiner, 4-6, 7-6, 10-6. Pieschl, the No. 33-ranked singles player, posted a 6-2, 6-1 win over Li at the second slot, while No. 38-ranked Pondicas dropped a 6-1, 6-3 match to Gruber at third singles. Steinhardt collected a 6-3, 6-3 victory against Tobe at fourth singles before Zherdeva suffered a tiebreaking loss to Consonery at fifth singles, 3-6, 6-3, 10-6. In the sixth slot, Czakon rounded out the match with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Majdalani.

The Vulcans continue play against NCAA Division I programs on Sunday, Feb. 5, when they travel face Penn in Philadelphia, Pa., at 1 p.m.