PINE VALLEY, N.Y. -- The Elmira College women's tennis team opened the 2016 campaign this morning on EC's home courts at the Murray Athletic Center in Pine Valley, New York. Elmira began the year on the right foot with a dominant 9-0 win over the visiting Wildcats of the Pennsylvania College of Technology. With the win, Elmira increased its home unbeaten streak to eight matches, a mark that dates back to the 2014-15 season.
 
Elmira set the tone early in the doubles portion of today's match by winning all three matches in convincing fashion. The day began with an 8-2 win by EC's top doubles team of Tilila El Yazidi '20 and Megan Fitzgerald '18, which was quickly followed by an 8-3 victory by the team's third doubles tandem of Emily Green '18 and Sarah Hill '19. Shortly after, Danielle Bliss '19 and Cheyanne Holwell '19 teamed up for an 8-0 blanking of their opponents at the second spot.
 
Singles action was much of the same for Elmira, as the Soaring Eagles were straight-set winners in each of the six contests. Elmira was nothing less than stellar on the singles court, winning 72-of-84 games played.
 
Fitzgerald was the first Soaring Eagle to finish, as the junior netter posted an unblemished score of 6-0, 6-0 at the second spot. The win for Fitzgerald increased her consecutive streak of singles victories to three matches dating back to last season.
 
Earning the match-deciding point today was freshman phenom, El Yazidi, who cruised to a 6-1, 6-0 win at the top singles position. El Yazidi is the first EC rookie to start at the No. 1 spot and earn a straight-set victory since the 2014 season.
 
With the match decided, the final four contests on court turned out to be feel-good wins for the Elmira women, as several players earned the first wins of their collegiate careers.
 
Bliss was a 6-1, 6-2 winner at the fourth spot, the first collegiate singles victory of her EC career. Green finished up shortly after, earning a no nonsense 6-2, 6-2 win at the third spot to bring the match score to 7-0.
 
Matches at fifth and sixth singles were the final two of the day, as Hill and Holwell looked to cap a perfect day for the Purple and Gold. The two underclassmen continued EC's flawlessness, starting with Holwell, who brought the match score to 8-0 with a 6-1, 6-0 win at the sixth spot, before Hill wrapped-up today's action with a 6-0, 6-3 victory at the five spot. The wins for Hill and Holwell are the first singles wins of both of their careers.
 
In His Own Words...
Head Coach Tom Linhart shares his general thoughts on today's match…
"I was very pleased with today's result. We have put in a lot of work the past two weeks and to see us execute on the court is a great feeling. It was a well-deserved win and I am very proud of the ladies."
 
Coach Linhart discusses the importance of wining the season opener…
"Momentum is so important to us, especially with how short our season is. It was great to have a confident win to start the year and to work out of those early-season jitters."
 
Coach Linhart talks about the consistent play up and down EC's lineup today…
"I was pleased at the focus and poise up and down the lineup today. We have really been focusing on the mental aspect of things and playing within ourselves. I felt like we excelled in both areas today and it really showed in how well we closed matches out."
 
Coach Linhart shares his brief thoughts on several players earning their first career wins…
"It is always a pleasure to see players win their first collegiate matches. I was proud with how we handled the nerves today and really just showed amazing poise and confidence. Today was a great win and I am looking forward to the rest of the season."
 
Scores
Singles
1. Tilila El Yazidi (ELMIRA) def. Melissa Stabley (PC) 6-1, 6-0
2. Megan Fitzgerald (ELMIRA) def. Morgan Blackwell (PC) 6-0, 6-0
3. Emily Green (ELMIRA) def. Tiana McCormick (PC) 6-2, 6-2
4. Danielle Bliss (ELMIRA) def. Maddie Wenk (PC) 6-1, 6-2
5. Sarah Hill (ELMIRA) def. Taylor Krow (PC) 6-0, 6-3
6. Cheyanne Holwell (ELMIRA) def. Taylor Brooks (PC) 6-1, 6-0
 
Doubles
1. El Yazidi/Fitzgerald (ELMIRA) def. Stabley/Blackwell (PC) 8-2
2. Green/Hill (ELMIRA) def. McCormick/Wenk (PC) 8-0
3. Bliss/Holwell (ELMIRA) def. Krow/Brooks (PC) 8-3
 
Order of Finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (2,1,4,3,6,5)
 
News and Notes

• Elmira won its first season opener since the 2014 season.
• The Soaring Eagles also won their second consecutive home-opening match.
• EC has won eight consecutive home matches dating back to the 2014-15 season.
• Today's match was the first all-time meeting between the two teams.
• EC won 96-of-113 games played today.
• El Yazidi, Bliss, Hill, and Holwell all earned their first career collegiate victories.
• El Yazidi earned the match-deciding win at first singles, 6-1, 6-0.

 
Up Next
Elmira will enjoy a five-day layoff until its next match, a Wednesday, September 7th, showdown with Houghton College. Wednesday's conference opener is set to begin at 4:00 p.m. on the Highlanders' home courts in Houghton, New York.