As the tennis players return to BG, they have several reasons to be pleased with themselves.

The dual road matches gave the women a 2-0 start to their spring season. The wins – both 5-2 against Duquesne University and Youngstown State University – also added to the already impressive records the Falcons hold over the two schools. The dual victories this past weekend bring the records against DU and YSU to 4-0 and 11-0, respectively.

The Friday match at DU gave five of the six BG singles players a winning start to their season, though the doubles pairs were unable to secure the team point.

During a pre-season interview, head coach Penny Dean admitted her apprehension concerning doubles placement this year.

“Our biggest challenge [this season] is doing as well in doubles as last year,” Dean said. “Seniors from last year left a loss in the lineup that [the current players] are going to need to step up and replace.”

And step up they did. On Saturday, the women shook off the winter break dust, got back into doubles mode, and lost only four games between the three sets against YSU.

Senior Kelsey Jakupcin (6-4, 6-4), sophomore Christine Chiricosta (6-2, 6-1), senior Stefanie Menoff (7-5, 2-6, 10-4) and senior Libby Harrison (6-2, 6-1) all won in singles matches during Saturday’s contest.

The Falcons were originally supposed to remain at home for their next four matches, beginning with Cleveland State University on Friday, Jan. 23 at 6:30 p.m. The second of the four was set to be against Wright State University on Saturday, Jan. 24, but has been cancelled due to a WSU scheduling conflict. A make-up date has not been scheduled.

The contest against CSU will be held at the recently opened Perrysburg Tennis Center.

For news, notes and opinions on all BG sports, check out www.bgnewssports.com.

Contact sports reporter Morgan Carlson at [email protected].