CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- In a battle of top-ranked Atlantic Region women's tennis programs the No. 4 Golden Eagles picked up a huge victory over No. 3 Mercyhurst University on Friday evening at Schoenbaum Courts.

Charleston entered Friday's match with a 10-2 overall record before taking down the Lakers who carried a 7-4 mark coming to the state's capital.
 
The Golden Eagles earned a 1-0 lead after winning on two of the three doubles courts, picking up the crucial point heading in the singles play.  Elise Edwards and Silvana Slusarciuc paired up to win at No. 2 doubles while Regina Lopez-Saucedo and Mathilde Simon clinced the doubles point with a hard fought 6-4 victory at No. 3 doubles.

Charleston kept the momentum rolling in singles with Kristine Gegeshidze making quick work at No. 1 singles to put UC up 2-0. Moments later UC's Katie Swann gave Charleston a 3-0 lead after winning in straight sets at No. 2 then Elise Edwards clinched the match at No. 3 singles, forcing her Laker opponent to retire in the second set.  Golden Eagle freshman Mathilde Simon put the finishing touched on Friday's big win with a come-from-behind victory at No. 6 singles capped off by a third-set super-tiebreaker.

Charleston returns to the courts tomorrow to host Edinboro at Schoenbaum Courts.  First serve is set for 1:00 p.m.

DOUBLES

Frost/Roopan (MU) def. Gegeshidze/Swann (UC) 6-4
Edwards/Slusarciuc (UC) def. Plecevic/Tsagkaraki (MU) 6-2
Lopez-Saucedo/Simon (UC) def. Jahr/Wenzel (MU) 6-4

SINGLES
Gegeshidze (UC) def. Frost (MU) 6-2, 6-1
Swann (UC) def. Roopan (MU) 6-2, 6-2
Edward (UC) def. Plecevic (MU) 7-6, 4-0 ret.
Tsagkaraki (MU) def. Slusarciuc (UC) 6-4, 6-4
Jahr (MU) def. Lopez-Saucedo (UC) 6-0, 6-1
Simon (UC) def. Wenzel (MU) 1-6, 6-3, 1-0