ERIE, Pa. – University of Charleston women's tennis cruised to a 5-0 win over West Chester University at Pennbriar Athletic Club on Monday afternoon in the opening round of the NCAA DII Women's Tennis Atlantic Region Championships.
 
The Golden Eagle victory earns them a second-round match with the tournament host, Mercyhurst University, on Tuesday at 12:00 p.m.  The Lakers easily won their first-round match, blanking the Shaw Bears by a 5-0 score.  UC and Mercyhurst met earlier this season in Charleston, with the Lakers winning the match 7-2 over the Golden Eagles.
 
UC got off to a smoking start Monday against the Golden Rams, sweeping all three doubles courts to take a 3-0 lead into singles play.  The tandem of Alize Uyttehove and Bridget Dillon was the most dominant of the group, rolling to an 8-2 victory at No. 3 doubles.
 
Senior Jackie Bakos picked up her 49^th career singles win at No. 4 singles, punishing her opponent in straight sets to put the Golden Eagles one court away from Atlantic Region Championship.  Freshman Kristine Gegeshidze provided the finishing touches on the 5-0 win, also claiming victory in straight sets at No. 1 singles, her 23^rd of the season.
 
Charleston 5, West Chester 0
Singles
1. Kristine Gegeshidze (UC) def. Claire Uhle (WCU) 6-3, 6-4
2. Maddy Shaak (WCU) vs. Elise Edwards (UC) 1-6, 1-4, unfinished
3. Rylee Power (WCU) vs. Silvana Slusarciuc (UC) 3-4, unfinished
4. Jackie Bakos (UC) def. Abriana Nolan (WCU) 6-2, 6-1
5. Sophie Rathmell (WCU) vs. Alize Uyttenhove (UC) 7-5, 5-4, unfinished
6. Steph Cifarelli (WCU) vs. Bridget Dillon (UC) 7-5, 2-5, unfinished
 
Doubles
1. Gegeshidze/Edwards (UC) def. Uhle/Shaak (WCU) 8-5
2. Bakos/Slusarciuc (UC) def. Power/Towler (WCU) 8-5
3. Uyttenhove/Dillon (UC) def. Nolan/Cifarelli (WCU) 8-2
 
Match Notes
University of Charleston 19-3
West Chester 13-4
 
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (4,1)