Kicking off six straight games against Conference Carolinas opponents, the Lenoir-Rhyne Women's Tennis Team (3-1) cruised past Southern Wesleyan (1-3) by a final score of 6-1 at the YMCA of Catawba Valley on Friday afternoon.

The Bears earned the doubles point courtesy of a pair of no-doubt wins. Emily Murchland and Sanne Janssen (first doubles) and Marto Escanero and Lucy Whelan each won by scores of 6-0. LR earned a forfeit victory in third singles, giving LR a clean sweep.

Diana Babinets outlasted Jennifer Ball in first singles. Babinets won the first set 6-4 before dropping set two 4-6. In the tiebreaker, Babinets would be the first to 10, winning by a score of 10-5. The Bears would be on the losing end of a third set tiebreaker in second singles but grabbed the rest of the singles matches.

"The ladies came out and continued their strong play in doubles from last weekend," said Head Coach Tom Rees. "The energy was great today as was the support from the LR and Hickory communities. We must also give a special 'well done' to Lucy Whelan who was back in the win column in singles today after a year on the sidelines with a knee injury."

Whelan defeated Caitlynn Nixon 6-0, 6-1 in fifth singles.

The Bears continue their Conference Carolinas tour on Thursday when they travel to North Greenville for a 2 p.m. match.