HOLDEN, Mass. - The Worcester State University women's tennis team got its season started off on a high note Saturday afternoon, downing the Wentworth Institute of Technology 8-1 in non-conference action at Wachusett Regional High School.

With the win, the Lancers improve to 1-0 on the season and pick up the University's first win in a head-to-head sport of the 2018-19 academic year. The Leopards see their record fall to 0-1.

The Lancers got the ball rolling in doubles play, picking up wins at second and third doubles to jump out to the early 2-0 edge. Freshmen Charlotte Mullane (Sterling, Mass.) and Emily Costa (Dudley, Mass.) opened the day with a convincing 8-1 win at second doubles over Wentworth's Hannah Erickson (Columbia, Conn.) and Olivia DeLuca (Dracut, Mass.). Worcester State's Victoria Konicki (Auburn, Mass.) and Abbey Tavares (Berkley, Mass.) were equally strong in their match at third doubles, defeating Kirsten Gramajo (Boston, Mass.) and CiCi Deakin (Standish, Maine) 8-3.

Wentworth picked up its lone point of the day at first doubles, where Ali Sollecito (Taunton, Mass.) and Ellen Butts (Brookfield, Mass.) claimed a 9-7 win over Lancers Dominique Alves (Ludlow, Mass.) and Monika Mularski (Auburn, Mass.).

The Lancers swept their way through singles play on their way to the victory. The match was clinched from the fifth position, where Costa downed Erickson 6-1, 6-0. Worcester State's Emma Collings (Marion, Mass.) and Konicki both won their matches without dropping a single set, playing in the fourth and sixth singles positions, respectively.

The Lancers will be off for two weeks before returning to action with a matchup against Bridgewater State on Sept. 15. The Leopards continue their season-opening three-game road trip with a visit to Suffolk on Thursday evening.