The Dominican University women's tennis team jumped right into the 2015-2016 season on Saturday with a pair of Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) duals, dropping an 8-1 decision to the Marian University Sabres before edging the Lakeland College Muskies, 5-4.
 
The Stars' number one doubles team tallied Dominican's lone point in the loss to Marian with Carmelita Villalobos (Addison, Ill.) and Megan Hickey (Plainfield, Ill.) posting a convincing 8-1 victory over the Sabres' Alissa Heid and Liz Elsick.
 
Despite the lop-sided score, first-year head coach Bob Almada was pleased with Dominican's effort. "Our young and inexperienced team showed a lot of heart against a team with good depth," commented Almada.
 
In the win over Lakeland, Dominican took a 2-1 lead behind an 8-4 win at number one doubles by Hickey and Villalobos and an 8-5 win at number two doubles by the team of Morganne Schmidt (West Dundee, Ill.) and Haley Locher (Lisle, Ill.).  The top of the Stars' singles lineup then closed out the victory with Villalobos, Hickey and Schmidt claiming victories at one, two and three singles respectively.
 
"It was great to see our top three take control in their singles and doubles matches," said Almada.  "In our second match of the day it would have been easy to give up—but no one did."