New Paltz, NY– The SUNY Oneonta women's tennis squad opened their season on the road today against a much improved Plattsburgh Cardinals squad on the campus of SUNY New Paltz.  With four new players in the lineup from last year including three freshman the Red Dragons pulled out an important conference win to begin the 2015-16 campaign with a score of 7-2.

In doubles play. the No. 1 doubles team of senior Michelle Spencer (Homer/Homer) and transfer newcomer, sophomore Alana Green (Pittsford/Pittsford), were down a break before recovering to break back enroute to an 8-3 triumph. Spencer's aggressive net play and Green's crisp groundstroke's will create a formidable duo for the Red Dragons this year.

At second doubles, freshman Faith Haedrich (Islip/Islip), playing her first career match, teamed up with senior Samantha Butcher (Sidney/Sidney Central) and played a close match but got the all important break of serve late and clinched an 8-5 victory.

Holding a 2-1 advantage going into singles play, Green at No. 1 singles won in straight sets. A match highlighted with long deliberate rallies, Green's great mental and physical stamina proved to play a huge role in the 7-5, 6-2 win.  Spencer lost the first game of the first set at second singles and won six consecutive games and the set enroute to a 6-1, 6-4 victory.  Butcher, playing for the first time in her career at the No. 3 position, was never threatened and cruised to a 6-1, 6-1 triumph.  Freshman Aubrey Hodnett and freshman Gabriella Dybas (Amsterdam /Amsterdam) gained important wins in their Red Dragon debut, triumphing 6-2, 6-1 and 7-5, 5-7 (10-6) respectively.

The women will take on its conference rival, New Paltz, at their campus beginning at 1 PM tomorrow.

Doubles:
1. Alana Green (Pittsford/Pittsford)/Michelle Spencer (Homer/Homer) (ONE) def. Kaitlyn Healy/Kelci Henn (PLT) 8-3
2. Samantha Butcher (Sidney/Sidney Central)/Faith Haedrich (Islip/Islip) (ONE) def. Jacqueline Ciriello/Kenzy Shetta (PLT) 8-5
3. Sarah Drexinger/Taylor Perre (PLT) def. Samantha Felice (Seneca Falls/Mynderse Academy)/Aubrey Hodnett (ONE) 8-5
 
Singles:
1. Alana Green (Pittsford/Pittsford) (ONE) def. Kaitlyn Healy (PLT) 7-5, 6-2
2. Michelle Spencer (Homer/Homer) (ONE) def. Kelci Henn (PLT) 6-1, 6-4
3. Samantha Butcher (Sidney/Sidney Central) (ONE) def. Sarah Drexinger (PLT) 6-1, 6-1
4. Aubrey Hodnett (ONE) def. Jacqueline Ciriello (PLT) 6-2, 6-1
5. Shari Forman (PLT) def. Samantha Felice (Seneca Falls/Mynderse Academy) (ONE) 6-7, 6-4, 10-7
6. Gabriella Dybas (Amsterdam /Amsterdam) (ONE) def. Margaret Mitchell (PLT) 7-5, 5-7, 10-6