ORLANDO, FLA. – Today the University of Northwestern women's tennis team began their slate of matches in Orlando this week, taking down Franciscan University (6-3) and Curry College (9-0) to pick up two wins.  This gives the Eagles four victories on the season, moving them to 4-5 in non-conference action. 

Match 1: Northwestern 6, Franciscan University 3 

Box Score

UNW kicked off the match by securing wins in two of the three doubles matches played.  The number one team of Nikki Paskewitz (Staples, Minn./Staples-Motley) and Emily Knight (Fort Dodge, Iowa/Fort Dodge) and number two team of Shawna Spears (Thief River Falls, Minn./Lincoln) and Mafee Rinta (Hudson, Wis./Hudson) were both very efficient in their match victories, dropping just two and one games respectively. 

Northwestern then bested their opponents in four of the six singles matches to clinch the overall match victory.  Paskewitz officially secured the team's match victory when she picked up the fifth team point with her victory at the one position (6-1, 7-6).  At the four position Gracie LeBrun tacked on the sixth and final match win for the team on the afternoon, as she went the distance (6-4, 6-7, 11-9) to outlast her opponent.  

Match 2: Northwestern 9, Curry College 0 

Box Score

Northwestern began the match by securing both doubles matches (the third match was won by default) in quite convincing fashion.  At the two position Belinda Weddle (Rhinelander, Wis./Rhinelander) and Jessica Gross (Woodbury, Minn./New Life Academy) went unblemished in their win and at the one position Spears and Rinta dropped just three games.   

UNW went on to sweep singles play as well, dropping just six total games across the five matches played (the sixth spot was won by default).  

The Eagles will hit the courts once again tomorrow night, facing off against Marywood University.  Fans can head to unweagles.com to stay up to date with UNW Women's Tennis.