WESTON, Mass. - The Regis (Mass.) women's tennis team needed to wait a day longer than originally anticipated to kick off their 2016 season, but showed no signs of rust when all was said and done, defeating Eastern Nazarene College by a score of 8-1 on Friday afternoon.

The Pride got out to a fast start, sweeping all three doubles matches to start off the day. At No. 1 doubles, the tandem of Jessie Lord (Fall River, Mass.) and Ariana McCormack (Worcester, Mass.) cruised to a big win, defeating Adele Duval (Reading, Calif.) and Veronica Jimenez (Lynn, Mass.) 8-1.

The Pride kept the ball rolling in singles play to secure the season opening win. The team's two freshman, McCormack and Carly Scanlon (Canton, Mass.) both looked like seasoned veterans, as they each nabbed 6-0, 6-0 victories from the No. 3 and No. 4 positions. The lone Pride loss came at No. 1 singles, where the Lions' Duval topped Regis senior Erica Murphy (Portsmouth, N.H.) 6-4, 6-2.

The match of the day, however, came at No. 2 singles, where the Lord and Eastern Nazarene sophomore Lindsey Steelman (Darlington, Md.) needed three sets to decide a victor. After a series of long rallies, it was Lord who came out on top for the Pride by a score of 6-2, 2-6, 11-9.

The Pride will return to action next Thursday, Sept. 8 when they travel to Rhode Island to take on Johnson & Wales at 2 p.m. The Lions have a quick turnaround, as they host Gordon College on Saturday in their home opener.

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