WILMINGTON, N.C. – UNC Wilmington made it a complete sweep on Saturday afternoon, as the Seahawks defeated the Norfolk State women's tennis team by a 7-0 score to open up the 2015 season for both teams.
 
The Spartans battled throughout the match, taking several sets both in singles and doubles. But NSU was unable to get over the hump at the UNCW Courts.
 
Senior Mafalda Lhorca and junior Andrea Macchiavello came closest to winning at No. 1 doubles. They ultimately fell to Annika Sillanpaa and Christine Kharkevich, 6-4. At the No. 2 spot, sophomore Liza Gordeeva and senior Yvonne Kamegne dropped a 6-1 contest to Alyssa Ritchie and Miller Hales.
 
Gordeeva also had the most success in singles, winning a total of five sets in a 6-3, 6-2 loss to Sillanpaa at the top spot in the lineup. Her doubles partner Kamegne dropped a 6-3, 6-0 decision to Kharkevich at the No. 3 singles position.
 
Macchiavello competed at the No. 2 slot, falling 6-1, 6-1 to Ritchie. In the other two contested matches, senior Krystal Scott fell 6-1, 6-3 to Alix Theodossiou at No. 4, and Lhorca dropped a 6-3, 6-1 matchup against Hamilton Lovett at the No. 5 singles spot.
 
Short-handed NSU defaulted at No. 6 singles and No. 3 doubles.
 
The Spartans will take part in the VCU 4-1 Invitational next Friday through Sunday, playing in four matches over those three days.