Denison opened its North Coast Athletic Conference schedule with a 9-0 victory over rival Ohio Wesleyan on Tuesday in Delaware, Ohio.

The team of Sarah Short and Alex Marcell improved to 7-2 at the first doubles flight following an 8-1 win over Jordan Leslie and Becky Simon.  At No. 2 doubles, rookie Heather Abzug and senior Kate Westenberger moved to 5-4 with a shutout win over Mackenzie Conway and Emily Kiourtsis.  Sophomore Lilianna Broussalian and senior Courtney Steiner won their foruth-straight match at the third flight after doubling up Whitney Lonnemann and Alex Webb.

In singles action, Short won her third-straight following a 6-2, 6-1 win, while Marcell shutout Kiourtsis to improve to 5-1 at No. 2 singles.  Broussalian, Westenberger, Abzug and Steiner all recorded straight-set wins at third through sixth singles.

The Big Red improves to 3-5 overall and 1-0 in the NCAC West Division, while the Battling Bishops fall to 6-4 and 0-2 in conference play.  Denison returns to action next Tuesday (Mar. 27) against Wittenberg.  Match time in Granville is slated for 4 p.m.