HARRISONBURG, Va. (JMU Athletics) – James Madison opened its women’s tennis home slate with a convincing 4-0 victory against Howard on Friday morning at East Campus Tennis Courts.
The Dukes (2-4) claimed the doubles point with wins on courts two and three against the Bison (0-3) and followed up with a trio of straight set singles triumphs to close the match.
JMU took the early lead after capturing doubles. On court tree, Ariel Avidan and Daria Munteanu controlled the pace en route to a 6-2 win over Lauren Oliver and Selah Stibbins. The Dukes clinched the point on court two, as Reka Matko and Mia Saveljic rallied past Imani Jean and Chloe Goins for a 7-5 win.
In singles play, the Dukes clinched the match, as Munteanu, Saveljic and Brooklyn Hoffmann registered wins at the top three courts in straight sets.
Saveljic dominated court two, defeating Franchesca Brown, 6-2, 6-1. Hoffmann had a first-set rally against Dana Hall on court three and reeled off 10 of the match’s final 11 games to earn a 6-4, 6-1 win, stretching the lead to 3-0.
Munteanu clinched the match over on court one, downing Jean by scores of 6-3, 6-3.
Matches on courts four through six did not begin due to the team’s agreeing to end at the clinching point, as well as the proximity of courts one through three finishing.
JMU is back in action on Sunday, Feb. 15 when it travels to Blacksburg to face Virginia Tech in a 2 p.m. matchup.
— JMU Athletics —
