TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- The University of North Dakota women's tennis team opened up the championship portion of the 2024-25 season with a 6-1 win over Eastern Illinois on Saturday evening from Terre Haute, Ind. 

UND (1-0) jumped out to a strong start in doubles play, cruising to a 1-0 lead thanks to a trio of 6-1 wins across all the courts. The top pairing of Ethel Li and Aziza Aubin opened it up before Nore Heinitz and Jule Schulte picked up right where they left off with a victory on the middle court to clinch the 1-0 start for the Fighting Hawks. The all-newcomer pairing of Alyssa Giupponi and Andrea Pineda clinched the perfect start for the green and white on the bottom court to send the Hawks into singles play with all the momentum. 

In the 1-on-1 action, Giupponi notched the first win of her collegiate career by a 6-0, 6-1 score on the bottom court to extend the lead to 2-0 while Li pushed the advantage to 3-0 at the No. 3 spot with a 6-4, 6-1 score. 

Pineda provided the first clinching win of the year for NoDak on the top court with a 6-2, 6-1 score before Aubin pushed the lead to 5-0 at the No. 5 position with a 6-4, 6-3 victory. EIU got on the board on the No. 2 court but UND polished off the victory with a 6-2, 7-6 win by Heinitz at the fourth spot to secure the 6-1 triumph. 

North Dakota hits the court once again tomorrow night at 8 p.m. against Lindenwood. 

For more information on North Dakota women's tennis, follow on social media @UNDwtennis or visit FightingHawks.com.