Women's Tennis | 10/2/2019 3:12:00 PM

    INDIANA, Pa. – The West Liberty University women's tennis team held its own against some of the top squads in the Atlantic Region over the weekend in the IUP Invitational hosted by Indiana (Pa.) University at the Maple Street Courts.
    "This was a different tournament format with computer-generated matchups as opposed to the traditional brackets," head coach Heather Gallagher said. "Even so, it was a good opportunity for our players to get multiple matches against high-quality competition and I thought we competed very well as a group throughout the event."
    Freshman Gemma Cliffe led the way with a pair of impressive singles victories and a doubles win on a full Saturday slate.
    Cliffe defeated West Virginia State's Gaya Solomon when Solomon was unable to continue after splitting the first two sets. The Hilltopper newcomer also picked up a straight-set win against IUP sophomore Laura Dunarova by scores of 6-2 and 7-5
    Returning All-MEC standout Raissa Wagner teamed with Cliffe for an 8-4 doubles win against Dunarova and All-PSAC junior Julia Newman in a Saturday doubles match.
    Also posting wins for WLU on Saturday were sophomore Anita Ponti, with a 6-2 6-4 romp past Slippery Rock's Lindsey Fadden, and freshman Katie Loader, who breezed past West Virginia State's Graziele Preterotto, 6-1 6-0.
    Sunday's schedule featured fewer matches but the Black and Gold still made their presence felt.
    Ponti took on Preterotto in an afternoon match and coasted to a 6-3 6-1 nod while senior Carleyah Mclean knocked off Slippery Rock's Lauren Fadden in a superbreaker, 6-4 1-6 (10-5).
    Loader teamed with junior Alex Olson to hand The Rock's Fadden twins - Lindsey and Lauren - an 8-2 loss in doubles action.