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BLACKSBURG, Va.- The 30^th-ranked Virginia Tech women’s tennis team started the Spring season on a high note by picking up two victories in a doubleheader at the Burrows-Burleson Tennis Center on Saturday. Tech swept Radford 7-0 in the morning before defeating Western Carolina in the afternoon by a score of 6-1.

New River Valley neighbor Radford came to town for match number one of the day’s doubleheader. Doubles play began with Francesca Fusinato and Ilinca Stoica downing Natalie Sayer and Meili Martin on court 1 for the first victory of the 2016 season. Sloan Barton and newcomer Emily Pence followed with a convincing 6-0 victory over on court 3 over Radford’s Taylor Fay and Grace Sarver to give the Hokies the doubles point. Today marked Pence’s first collegiate action since she joined the team this semester.

Singles play began with Caroline Daxhelet defeating Martin 6-0, 6-1 followed by Raluca Mita taking down Taylor 6-1, 6-0 to propel the Hokies out to a 3-0 lead. Nandakumar produced the fourth and match-clinching point with a 6-2, 6-0 win over Sarver. Play continued as Katherine Butler beat Claire Nguyen 6-0, 6-2 before Stoica took down Tarrannum Handa on court 1, 6-3, 6-0. Kelly Williford bested Sayer 6-3, 6-2 on court 3 to round out the morning match and give Tech a convincing 7-0 victory.

The afternoon match with the Catamounts of Western Carolina began with Elena Cerezo-Codina and Daxhelet claiming a 6-1 win over Megan McLinden and Shannon Taranto on court 2. Butler and Nandakumar took it from there also winning 6-1 on court 3 over the Catamounts’ Metse Mesalles and Gaby Hurt to make it 1-0 in favor of the Hokies heading into singles play.

Nandakumar claimed a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Ansari on court 4 to begin singles play, followed by a 6-1, 6-1 win for Williford over Bettiol on court 3. Fusinato clinched the match out of the 1 spot, defeating Western Carolina’s Kissell 6-3, 6-2. With Tech up 4-0, play continued, giving Butler and Cerezo-Codina the chance to pick up a couple more victories for the Hokies by scores of 6-4, 6-4 and 6-2, 7-5, respectively. Tech improved to 2-0 with the 6-1 victory over the Catamounts.

Next up for Virginia Tech is ACC foe Clemson at home this Thursday the 28^th at 3 p.m.

Virginia Tech vs. Radford

Singles competition

1. Ilinca Stoica (VT) def. HANDA, Tarrannum (RU) 6-3, 6-0

2. Caroline Daxhelet (VT) def. MARTIN, Meili (RU) 6-0, 6-1

3. Kelly Williford (VT) def. SAYER, Natalie (RU) 6-3, 6-2

4. Raluca Mita (VT) def. FAY, Taylor (RU) 6-1, 6-0

5. Katherine Butler (VT) def. NGUYEN, Claire (RU) 6-0, 6-2

6. Sansitha Nandakumar (VT) def. SARVER, Grace (RU) 6-2, 6-0

Doubles competition

1. Francesca Fusinato/Ilinca Stoica (VT) def. SAYER, Natalie/MARTIN, Meili (RU) 6-2

2. Elena Cerezo-Codina/Caroline Daxhelet (VT) def. HANDA, Tarrannum/NGUYEN, Claire (RU) 5-1

3. Sloan Barton/Emily Pence (VT) def. FAY, Taylor/SARVER, Grace (RU) 6-0

Virginia Tech vs. Western Carolina

Singles competition

1. Francesca Fusinato (VT) def. Stacia Kissell (WCU) 6-3, 6-3

2. Elena Cerezo-Codina (VT) def. Megan McLinden (WCU) 6-2, 7-5

3. Kelly Williford (VT) def. Shannon Bettiol (WCU) 6-1, 6-1

4. Sansitha Nandakumar (VT) def. Elizabeth Ansari (WCU) 6-1, 6-0

5. Katherine Butler (VT) def. Savannah Taranto (WCU) 6-4, 6-4

6. Erin Maguire (WCU) def. Mariana Silva (VT) 6-2, 6-1

Doubles competition

1. Raluca Mita/Kelly Williford (VT) def. Stacia Kissell/Shannon Bettiol (WCU) 5-2

2. Elena Cerezo-Codina/Caroline Daxhelet (VT) def. Megan McLinden/Savannah Taranto (WCU) 6-1

3. Katherine Butler/Sansitha Nandakumar (VT) def. Montse Mesalles/Gaby Hurt (WCU) 6-1

For updates on Virginia Tech women's tennis, follow the Hokies on Twitter Follow @VT_WTennis