ERIE, Pa. - Fredonia State women's tennis opened its 2012 season with a 6-3 win over Penn State Behrend on Wednesday.
It is believed to be the first Blue Devil win over the Lions in recent memory. Head coach Joe Calarco, in his 13th season, could not recall another.
"I'm just very, very pleased," he said. "For the first match of the season, these girls played so hard and so well."
Singles winners for the Blue Devils were junior Jess Johnston (Fredonia) at No. 2, junior Miller Barmasse at No. 4, junior Molly Zanetta at No. 5, and sophomore Stephanie Thompson at No. 6.
Johnston and Thompson combined to win their No. 2 doubles match. Zanetta and Barmasse did likewise at No. 3.
"She was very consistent in her shots," Calarco said of Barmasse. "She played a very strong and smart game."
The Blue Devils return to action Saturday at home against Brockport on the Steele Hall Courts. First match begins at 1 p.m.
Women's Soccer
Blue Devils ranked fifth in the East
The Fredonia State women's soccer team is ranked fifth in this week's NSCAA/Continental Tire NCAA D-III East poll.
The Blue Devils defeated Roanoke, 1-0, last Saturday to earn inclusion into the Sept. 4 rankings. They subsequently defeated Westminster (Pa.), 1-0, on Tuesday night.
Three future Blue Devil opponents are ranked ahead of them this week. William Smith is No. 1 in the East, and also No. 1 nationally. Also ranked in the East are New Paltz at No. 4 and Cortland, tied with the Blue Devils at No. 5.
Fredonia State returns to action at 7 p.m. Friday vs. the University of Rochester on the first day of the Blue Devil Clarion Classic.
