FLUSHING, N.Y. – The Niagara women’s tennis team opened the 2009 MAAC Championship with a resounding 7-0 victory over eighth-seeded Rider on Friday morning from the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

Niagara (10-11) took the doubles point by winning all three matches. The number one tandem of Alyssa Lucas (Clarkston, Mich.) and Raquel Solis (Puebla, Mexico) prevailed in a tie-breaker over Danielle Mores and Krissy Paich, 8-7 (7-3).  The other two double teams won convincingly and dropped only one game between them.

The Purple Eagles were also impressive in singles action. Hilary Hansen (Charlottetown, P.E.I.) started the single matches with a 61 62 win over Morse and Lucas followed with a 61 63 win. Solis and senior Vanja Lakic (Waterloo, Ont.) had back-to-back 60 60 victories.  Sophomore Brittany Walters (Buffalo, N.Y.) finished the match with a 60 62 win.

Niagara will play the no. 4 seed Marist Red Foxes, who beat Siena 4-2, on Saturday at 9 a.m. The Purple Eagles defeated the Red Foxes 6-1 on March 29.  

#1 Niagara 7, #8 Rider 0

Singles

#1 Hilary Hansen (NIA) def. Danielle Morse (RID) 6-1, 6-2

#2 Alyssa Lucas (NIA) def. Krissy Paich (RID) 6-1, 6-3

#3 Raquel Solis (NIA) def. Tricia Ashmore (RID) 6-0, 6-0

#4 Vanja Lakic (NIA) def. Danielle White (RID) 6-0, 6-0

#5 Victoria Tiso (NIA) def. Allison Clay (RID) 6-1, 6-1

#6 Brittany Walters (NIA) def. Alyssa Markovits (RID) 6-0, 6-2

Doubles

#1 Lucas/Solis (NIA) def. Morse/Paich (RID) 8-7 (7-3)

#2 Lakic/Hansen (NIA) def. Ashmore/Garrity (RID) 8-0

#3 Tiso/Walters (NIA) def. White/Matticks (RID) 8-1