ERIE, Pa. (March 27) – The Vulcans opened Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action on Saturday afternoon with a 7-0 loss at regionally-ranked Mercyhurst with the match being held at Fairview High School.

With the loss, the California University of Pennsylvania tennis team moves to 0-3 this season and start league play with a 0-1 mark. Meanwhile, the Lakers improve to 2-4 overall with a 1-0 record in divisional action.

Mercyhurst swept doubles play on Saturday to capture the doubles point. At the first position, freshman Carmen Duran (Barcelona, Spain/Esteve Albert) and senior Laura Vargas (Bogota, Colombia/Siglo XXI) suffered a 6-2 loss against Emily Gordon and Naomi Jahr. Senior Charlie Gallagher (Kennett Square, Pa./Octorara) and freshman Kylie Feltenberger (Polk, Pa./Franklin) were dealt a 6-2 defeat by Valentine Budin and Janice Theodora at second doubles. Juniors Fulvia Camargo (South Park, Pa./South Park) and Julia McDaniel (South Park, Pa./South Park) dropped a 6-1 contest at the third slot to Alana Lewis and Athina Tsagkaraki.

The Lakers closed the match victory by winning all six singles matches in straight sets. Vargas fell by a 6-1, 6-2 margin at the first position to Jahr and Gallagher suffered a 6-1, 6-0 loss to Tsagkaraki at the second slot. Duran dropped a 6-2, 6-0 contest to Gordon at third singles, while Feltenberger was blanked by a 6-0, 6-0 score at the fourth position by Budin. McDaniel was downed by a 6-3, 6-0 count at fifth singles by Lewis and Camargo suffered a 6-1, 6-0 loss against Theodora at the sixth slot.

Cal U returns to action on Tuesday, March 30, when it hosts Edinboro at Roadman Park with play starting at 3 p.m.