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By Andrew Korba

The Ohio Northern women's tennis team began their season with an 8-1 victory over St. Francis (Ind.) and 9-0 win over area foe Defiance Thursday afternoon at the University Courts.

The Polar Bears are now 2-0 on the season.

St. Francis falls to 3-2 on the year while Defiance is now 0-1.

Against St. Francis, Northern started the match by sweeping all three doubles courts.

The tandem of senior Christie Gales and junior Michelle Tuma erased 4-0 and 6-2 deficits to pull out a thrilling 9-7 win at No. 1 doubles.

Freshman Christina Corbean and Meghan Letizia were victorious at No. 2 doubles by a 8-0 margin.

Juniors Carly Olmstead and Lauren Rife won by a 8-3 score at No. 3 doubles.

Northern continued to roll in singles play.

Leitizia posted a 6-0, 6-1 win at No. 3 singles while sophomore Brittany Miller won 6-1, 6-0 at No. 5 singles.

Tuma won 6-1, 6-3 at No. 2 singles, sophomore Kristin Cellentani was victorious at No. 4 singles by a 6-1, 6-3 score and Olmstead won 6-4, 6-0 at No. 6 singles.

Against Defiance, Northern swept all three doubles courts losing two games in the process.

Corbean and Letizia teamed up for an 8-1 win at No. 3 doubles.

Miller and Cellantani won 8-0 at No. 1 doubles while Tuma and Gales won 8-0 at No. 2 doubles.

ONU continued to cruise in singles play.

Tuma won 6-2, 6-2 at No. 1 singles.

Corbean, Letizia and Miller won 6-0, 6-0 at No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 singles respectively.

Rife won 6-2, 6-1 at No. 5 singles while Gales plicked up a 6-0, 1-0 (retired) win.

Ohio Northern will be in action again when they play a doubleheader at Bluffton on Saturday. The Polar Bears will face Rose-Hulman (Ind.) first at 3 pm followed by Bluffton at 6 pm.