Firebirds Surge Continues With 9-0 Victory Over Molloy

WASHINGTON, DC – The University of the District of Columbia women's tennis team earned its fifth shutout victory of the season, cruising past Molloy College, 9-0 on Friday afternoon in the nation's capital.

The Firebirds swept all three doubles matches and all six singles matches to improve to 5-1 overall and 4-1 in East Coast Conference play. Molloy fell to 4-7 overall and 3-2 in the ECC.

Senior Sofia Leon and junior Alicia Gallard earned a resounding, 8-0 win at third doubles for the first point of the match, and it was all Firebirds from there. Junior Maxime Duijst and sophomore Peerada Looareesuwan teamed up for an 8-2 win at second doubles, and senior Jessica Nunez and freshman Tamara Kenia grinded out a tough, 8-6 victory at first doubles.

With a 3-0 lead, the Firebirds needed just two singles wins to close out the match. Leon earned the first of those two with an impressive, 6-1, 6-0 victory over Megan Lawless at the No. 5 spot. Top singles player, Nunez, sealed the victory with the decisive fifth point as she defeated Stephanie Rances in straight sets (6-0, 6-0). She is now 7-2 on the season in singles play.

Looareesuwan improved to 10-2 on the season with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Gabrielle DiCroce at the No. 4 spot followed by Kenia's 6-2, 6-1 victory over Nikki Gloria at No. 2. Kenia is 6-2 in her rookie campaign.

Gallard and Duijst closed out the matches with wins at No. 6 and 3, respectively. Duijst improved to 5-2 and Gallard, 5-1.

All five of the Firebirds' wins this season have been 9-0 shutouts. Their only loss this season came to the pre-season ECC favorite, NYIT Bears. Tomorrow, they will host Queens at 1:30 p.m.