WHEELING, W.Va. (Feb. 27) – The Vulcans opened the season with a 7-0 loss against West Liberty at Wheeling Park on Saturday evening.

With the loss, the California University of Pennsylvania tennis team begins the campaign with a 0-1 mark. Meanwhile, West Liberty starts the year with a 1-0 record after being tabbed third in the preseason Mountain East Conference (MEC) poll.

The Hilltoppers earned the doubles point on Saturday by winning all three matches. At the first position, senior Laura Vargas (Bogota, Colombia/Siglo XXI) and freshman Carmen Duran (Barcelona, Spain/Esteve Albert) suffered a 6-2 loss to Gemma Cliffe and Ishika Agarwal. Senior Charlie Gallagher (Kennett Square, Pa./Octorara) and junior Fallon Winseck (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair) dropped a 6-3 contest at second doubles to Luisa Agudelo and Jaqueline Paris-Aceves. At the third slot, junior Julia McDaniel (South Park, Pa./South Park) and freshman Kylie Feltenberger (Polk, Pa./Franklin) fell by a 6-0 margin against Nathalia Valencia and Alexandra Olson.

West Liberty completed the match victory after winning all six singles matches in straight sets. A transfer from Davis & Elkins, Vargas was downed by a 6-2, 6-0 margin at the first position by Cliffe. Winseck suffered a 6-2, 6-0 loss at the second slot to Agarwal and Gallagher dropped a 6-0, 6-0 match to Valencia at third singles. Duran was dealt a 6-1, 6-1 loss at the fourth position by Pena-Aceves and Feltenberger was blanked by a 6-0, 6-0 margin by Agudelo at the fifth slot. McDaniel suffered a 6-2, 6-1 loss at sixth singles against Olson.

Cal U is idle for nearly a month before returning to action with a home match against Fairmont State on March 20 at 2 p.m.