WENHAM, Mass. -- The Simmons University women's tennis team was defeated by host Gordon College, 9-0, this afternoon at the Brigham Complex in Wenham, Mass. The Sharks fall to 0-2 on the season, while the Fighting Scots improve to 1-1.

Simmons senior Paola Rios (Miami, Fla.) took Gordon first year Jordyn Maddex (Andover, Kan.) to three sets, before succumbing at fourth singles. Maddex won the opening set, 6-4, before Rios matched her in the second frame, 6-4. Maddex turned in a 10-5 decision in the pro-set form tie-breaking third set. Junior Marissa Johnson (Norwell, Mass.) also staged a spirited battle for the Sharks, but fell in both sets at number two singles to junior Anne Carsey (Flagstaff, Ariz.). Carsey took the first set, 6-3, before holding off Johnson with a 7-6 (7-1) effort in the second set.

The Fighting Scots opened the match with a win at number three doubles behind junior Emily Ontiveros (Sylmar, Calif.) and first year Anna Mullane (North Chelmsford, Mass.), who did not drop a game (8-0) against the Simmons pair of sophomore Carrie St. Peter (Chester, N.H.) and first year Kaili Shorey (Vassalboro, Maine). Gordon senior Justine Hanson (Meadow Vista, Calif.) teamed with classmate Gabrielle Brucker (Eleva, Wis.) for an 8-1 triumph at number one doubles over Johnson and junior Nickie Nguyen (Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam/Saint Joseph Preparatory (Mass.). The Fighting Scots swept doubles action with a win at second doubles as Carsey and Maddex played to an 8-4 showing over Rios and senior Michelle Medici (Portland, Maine). 

Sophomore Caitlin Kwok (Dana Point, Calif.) was flawless to pick up the first singles win of the afternoon for Gordon with a 6-0, 6-0 effort at sixth singles over Sharks' first year Sabrina Brown (Mason, N.H.). Hanson registered a 6-1, 6-0 win over Nguyen at number one singles to give the Fighting Scots the deciding point in the dual match with a 5-0 lead. Brucker did not surrender a game in a 6-0, 6-0 result over Medici at number three singles and senior Kaelyn Hall (Sugarland, Texas) got a win at fifth singles over Simmosn first year Sarah Mariski (Portland, Maine), 6-3, 6-1.

Simmons returns to the court on Thursday, September 6 when it hosts GNAC foe Eastern Nazarene College at 4:30 p.m. on the Daly Courts. Gordon will be in action again on September 12, when it hosts Salve Regina University at 4:00 p.m.