EMORY, Va. – Both the Emory & Henry men's and women's teams began their seasons Sunday afternoon versus Averett University.  However, only the women's program was able to start the season off with a victory.  The women's team earned a 7-2 victory, while the men fell by a 4-5 score.

The women started the match with a 3-0 advantage after doubles play.  The tandem of Sveva Mazzari (San Remo, ITALY) and Gina Rutledge (Germantown, N.C.)  won at the one flight, 8-2, while Lauren Riner (Coeburn, Va.) and Savanna Summers (Bluff City, Va.) won at the two spot, 8-6.  Averett University forfeited the third spot giving the Wasps the 3-0 lead.

Mazzari kept rolling at one singles, winning 6-0, 6-2.  Riner and Summers also found success at three and four, respectively, winning 6-4, 6-3 and 6-2, 6-4.  The Wasps earned their final victory at the six spot due to forfeit as well. 

Like the women's side, the men's side played well in doubles, starting singles with a 2-1 advantage.  The duo of Alex Minaysan (Moscow, RUSSIA) and John Dalton Ferguson (Gate City, Va.) won at one doubles 8-2.  Kamil Aliev (Moscow, RUSSIA) and Jonathan Romano (Bland, Va.) faltered at two doubles, losing 8-1.  At three doubles, Luke Funkhouser (Gate City, Va.) and Nathan Horner (Orange, Va.) took on Aliev's brother, Rustam, and earned an 8-3 victory.

At one singles, Minasyan defeated Averett's one, 6-2, 6-4.  For E&H's final victory of the afternoon, Horner played in an exciting match at the six spot.  Horner and Averett's Aliev went into a third set that was eventually won by the Wasp freshman.  Horner won the match 6-2, 5-7, 13-11.

Both the men and women play in their final match of the fall season this Saturday at 1 p.m. vs. Johnson University at Richardson Tennis Courts on the campus of Emory & Henry.

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-photos courtesy of Caleb Johnston, E&H '15