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The Wilkes University women's tennis team opened the 2009 season in fine fashion as it took a 9-0 win over Manhattanville. Wilkes has now won 22-straight Freedom Conference matches dating back three-plus seasons.

All six singles matches were decided in straight-sets and nobody gave up more than three games in a set. The Lady Colonels, playing with three freshmen in the lineup and without two of its top-three players, won two matches without giving up a game.

In doubles play, Melanie Nolt (Manheim, PA/Manheim Central) and Katie Lynn (Berwick, PA/Berwick) took an 8-0 win over Scarlette Rodriguez and Danielle Waldron to give Wilkes an early 1-0 lead. Michelle Knight (Roaming Shores, OH/Trinity) and Alexis Donner (Belmar, NJ/Wall), playing at the No. 3 spot, quickly made it 2-0 with their 8-2 win over Nell Kucich and Kaitlin Triano. Anna Mitchell (Montclair, NJ/Montclair) and Rebekah Shanaman (Richland, PA/ELCO) completed the doubles sweep with an 8-1 win over Bo Siek and Julia Romano at the No. 2 position.

In singles action, Shanaman gave the Lady Colonels a commanding 4-0 lead with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Joeliza Valdez at the No. 6 spot before Katie Lynn (Berwick, PA/Berwick), playing at the No. 2 position, clinched the match with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Kucich.

Playing at the No. 4 spot, Donner won her first collegiate match 6-0, 6-1 over Triano while Nolt gave the Lady Colonels a 7-0 advantage with a 6-0, 6-2 win over Rodriguez at the No. 1 spot. Michelle Knight (Roaming Shores, OH/Trinity) won her match 6-2, 6-0 over over Siek before Anna Mitchell (Montclair, NJ/Montclair) rounded out singles play with a 6-0, 6-3 win over Danielle Waldron.

The Lady Colonels will be in action Sept. 26-28 at the ITA Regionals in Fredericksburg, Va. and will return home Sept. 29 to host Eastern.