Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (Feb. 7, 2010) - No. 23 Nova Southeastern University's women's tennis team got the 2010 season underway on Sunday with an 8-1 victory over St. Thomas at the NSU Tennis Center at Rolling Hills. The Sharks have now won five of their last six season openers. Additionally, Sunday's match is the first one to be played at the newly constructed NSU Tennis Center at Rolling Hills.

"The team came together against a good St. Thomas team," said head coach Michael Coleman. "For our first match of the season, the doubles and the singles matched together pretty well. Everyone supported each other and we look forward to our next match on Saturday versus Tampa."

NSU (1-0) won all three doubles. Justine Feaster (So., Escondido, Calif.) and Daria Egorova edged out Manuela Gil and Ydisa Quintero 9-7 in the No. 1 slot. The Sharks easily claimed the No. 2 and the No. 3 doubles by 8-1 scores. Karolina Porizkova (Sr., Prostejov, Czech Republic) and Elisa Leeder (Sr., Eisenhuettenstadt, Germany) defeated Bridget Castillo and Stephanie Pfeffer at No. 2 doubles. Mary Crider (Sr., Georgetown, Texas) and Paige Lindsley (Jr., Albuquerque, N.M.) topped Camille Allen and Alina Ramirez in the No. 3 slot.

In singles play, the Sharks came away with five wins. Porizkova defeated Castillo 6-2, 6-0 at No. 2 singles, while Leeded came away with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Quintero in the No. 3 slot. In No. 4 singles, Mary Crider had a 6-2, 6-0 triumph over Pfeffer. Lindsley picked up a 6-2, 6-0 win over Allen at No. 5 singles, while at No. 6 singles, Blake Bauer (Fr., Miami, Fla.) got past Maria Beatrice Giovanardi 6-4, 6-2.

St. Thomas' lone point of the match was at No. 1 singles. Gil defeated Egorova 6-0, 6-4.

NSU returns to action on Saturday when the Sharks open Sunshine State Conference play against Tampa. The match is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. from the NSU Tennis Center at Rolling Hills.