The Northern Kentucky University Women’s Tennis team opened their home season win an 8-1 victory over Centre university on Feb. 13.‘

The No. 33-nationally ranked Norse (3-1, 0-0 Great Lakes Valley Conference) got off to a quick start, winning all three of the doubles matches.

Stephanie Isaacs and Jenny Hand started off the contest with an 8-0 victory over Whitney Fraley and Karolyn Hays and an 8-4 win for Michelle Schirmann and Kristen Sunday followed. Maggie Koetter and Jillian Sturgeon were able to close out the doubles flights 7-2 in a tiebreak over Sarah Swauger and Mellissa Swinger, after three straight breaks of serve.

Assistant coach Scott Moreland tried to remind Koetter and Sturgeon to stay calm and stick to their strategy and ‘play (their) game.’

Isaacs tabbed another victory in the singles flight of the contest, defeating Fraley 6-2 and 6-3, while Koetter remained undefeated for the season with a victory over Katy Bender (6-2, 7-6, 2-7) in the No. 6 flight.

The only loss of the day came at the hands of Hays over Schirmann 10-7 in a super tiebreak.

Isaacs said the team was fired up and excited to play for all the fansthe home crowd present to cheer them on.

‘Everyone did a great job and we are so thankful to everyone that came out to support us,’ she said.

The Norse knew Centre was a strong team after they defeated Bellarmine, who finished second in the GLVC East Division last season.

According to NKU Head Coach Geoff Crawford, the team learned from their mistakes in their previous match (against Dayton) and were ready to face Centre.

‘We were able to implement and had a better-prepared attitude going in,’ Crawford said.‘

That same attitude will be necessary in NKU’s next outing, in the University of Dayton Classic on Feb. 20. The tournament will present the with a rematch against Dayton, who beat the Norse 5-2 in their spring opener on Feb. 20.