PITTSBURGH - The Duquesne women's tennis was victorious against visiting Mercyhurst on Sunday afternoon by a score of 7-0 at Alpha Tennis and Fitness of Pittsburgh. The Dukes improved to 2-1 on the season with the win. 

The Dukes started the match with a doubles sweep, winning 6-1 on each lines. Ellen Shanahan and Daniela Latoni earned their second victory as a pair, while Natasha Novak and Ana Utrilla-Benito teamed up for a win for the first time.

"We started fast and maintained focus on all three courts for the entirety of the doubles matches," said Duquesne Director of Tennis Vanessa Steiner. "I was extremely happy with the way we performed in doubles today, and we have clearly showed improvement from the beginning of the year." 

Novak was able to close a tight first set 6-4 and pull away in the second set 6-1. Shanahan had a strong showing at No. 2 singles winning 6-2, 6-1 while Margot Pessy made her singles debut for the year at No. 3, winning 6-1, 6-1.

Utrilla-Benito also had a dominant win at the fourth flight winning 6-1, 6-0, while Latoni came out victorious 6-3, 6-1. 

Amulika Gottiparthy scored her first win of the year, taking the first set 6-1, before dropping the second set 4-6.  She then won a 10 point tiebreaker in lieu of a full third set, 10-4.

The Dukes will again compete on Friday, March 12 at home against Saint Francis U at 11 a.m. The matchup with be streamed live HERE.