The Sweet Briar Tennis team hosted Ferrum College today in the new Sweet Briar Fitness and Athletic Center. This is the Vixen Tennis team's home opener and the first match played at Upchurch Field House. The Vixens played in front of their home crowd, who had gathered around the courts on the suspended indoor running track to see the Sweet Briar team take their first win of the season, 9-0.

The match got under way at 4:30 p.m. as the teams started with their doubles line-ups. The format is a nine point match that consists of an 8-game pro set for doubles (three points), and six singles matches determined by playing two out of three sets.

The Sweet Briar Vixens were ready to go for their first match of the season and took the first three points in the doubles for a 3-0 lead. The teams of senior Virginia Edahl (Charlotte, N.C.) and first-year player Moriah Burke (Rockville, Mary.) won by a score of 8-2. Sophomore Julia Green (Vancouver, Wash.) and first-year player Sarah Manter (Brunswick, ME) paired up for the win at second doubles, 8-0. And returners Leslie Polaski ('10/Amherst, Va.) and Ebie Baker ('11/Farmville, Va.) won at third doubles with a score of 8-0.

In singles action, the Vixens continued the momentum with a win at each position. The players and scores were:

• First singles: Virginia Edahl, 6-0, 6-0
• Second singles: Moriah Burke, 6-1, 6-0
• Third singles: Krista Maldonado ('12/Ennis, Texas) 6-3, 6-0
• Fourth singles: Sarah Manter, 8-0
• Fifth singles: Glory Bowman, 8-0
• Sixth singles: Ellen Reid, 8-0

The Vixens (1-0 overall) will host Maryville College (Tenn.) at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday Feb. 27, followed by a 4:00 p.m. match against Averett University at the Upchurch Field House.