DELAND, FLA. - Georgia Southern women's tennis opened up the 2024 Spring season successfully with a 4-3 win at Stetson on Saturday afternoon in DeLand, Fla.

The Eagles (1-0) picked up their first win over the Hatters (0-1) since 2017 and will look to make it a perfect season-opening weekend on Sunday when the team faces Bethune-Cookman at 10 a.m. in Daytona Beach.

Georgia Southern claimed the doubles point from the Hatters as Silvia Martinez and Lindsay Tulenko collected a 6-3 win over Magdalena Hedrzak and Nadejda Maslova at No. 1 doubles, then Mackenzie Leopold and Sophie Wagemaker delivered a 6-3 win over Noa Cohen and Zali Morris at No. 3 doubles.

The Eagles got quick straight-set wins from Martinez at No. 1 singles, 6-2, 6-4 over Cheri Darley, and from Ninon Martinache at No. 2 singles, 6-0, 6-4, over Maslova. Lindsay Tulenko won her first set at No. 3 singles over Alanna DiFrancesco, and while she was locked into a tight second set, Stetson claimed singles wins at No. 4, No. 5 and No. 6 singles to make the match all square at 3-3.

Tulenko and DiFrancesco battled to a second-set tiebreaker, where Tulenko collected a 7-2 win to clinch the match for the Eagles.

"We had a real hard fought win today," Georgia Southern head women's tennis coach Sean McCaffrey said. "Anytime you are able to take a 4-3 decision on someone else's courts, it becomes quite special. And we really needed everyone contributing today. Seeing Mackenzie pick up her first college win in doubles with Sophie was particularly nice. But really it was Silvia, Ninon and Lindsay who showed a fantastic amount of composure and grit by being able to hold off a pretty strong comeback by a super tough Stetson squad. This is a great way to begin the season and I'm eager to see what we do tomorrow in another match on the road."

RESULTS
Singles
Silvia Martinez (GS) def. Cheri Darley (STET) 6-0, 6-4
Ninon Martinache (GS) def. Nadejda Maslova (STET) 6-0, 6-4
Lindsay Tulenko (GS) def. Alanna DiFrancesco (STET) 6-4, 7-6 (2)
Zali Morris (STET) def. Paula Hijos (GS) 6-2, 6-3
Magdalena Hedrzak (STET) def. Nanaka Kijima (GS) 6-2, 4-6, 6-1
Noa Cohen (STET) def. Sonja Keranen (GS) 7-5, 7-5

Doubles
Silvia Martinez/Lindsay Tulenko (GS) def. Magdalena Hedrzak/Nadejda Maslova (STET) 6-3
Cheri Darley/Alanna DiFrancesco (STET) def. Sonja Keranen/Ninon Martinache (GS) 6-0
Mackenzie Leopold/Sophie Wagemaker (GS) def. Noa Cohen/Zali Morris (STET) 6-3