CARROLTON, Ga. | Thanks to strong performances by the freshmen on Thursday, the UAH women's tennis team started the season off with a convincing 7-2 victory over West Georgia. The Lady Chargers start off the year at 1-0 overall and 1-0 in conference play as West Georgia slips to 0-2.
 
Three freshmen made their collegiate debut as Aude Rappaz, Aniek Remmerswaal and Marleen Gort all picked up wins.
 
At No. 3 doubles, the duo of Linda Carvajal and  Rappaz got the day started for UAH as they would go on to defeat Kelly Arsenault and Amanda Northrup in dominating fashion 8-1.
 
The tandem of Katie Bryant and Gort won by a score of 8-4 as the No. 1 in the lineup over Sierra Brown and Cailey Stevens, while Remmerswaal and Jessica Groupierre fell in a tight 9-7 setback to Nicole Northrup and Whitney Maples.
 
In singles, the Lady Chargers dominated across the board as Gort and Groupierre won both of their singles matches 6-1, 6-1. Remmerswaal kept the momentum going with a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Cailey Stevens.
 
Senior Maria Lawton recorded a 6-0, 6-1 victory over Northrup and Rappaz notched her first singles victory, going 6-1, 6-0 over Arsenault.
 
Coach Brian Garber was especially pleased with his team's performance in their first match of the season after having their first contest of the year postponed.
 
"It feels great to open up with a conference win and start the year off on the right foot. This freshmen class has a chance to do great things, and they've opened up exactly how a coach would want," said Garber.
 
The Lady Chargers will return to action when they head to Jefferson City, Tenn., for a 2 p.m. match with Carson-Newman on Feb. 12.