The 23rd-ranked Denison women's tennis team opened North Coast Athletic Conference West Division play with an 8-1 victory at Ohio Wesleyan on Thursday in Delaware, Ohio.

The Big Red gained the early advantage with a clean sweep in doubles play. The third doubles team of Ashley Hammons and Sarah Torrence moved to 3-0 at a team following an 8-3 victory over Kimberly Baione and Sydney Simmons.

Emma Alsup and Megan Hickey were victorious at the second flight after doubling up Brooke Butterworth and Meryl Reams, 8-4. At first singles, senior Meg Chiumento and freshman Lauren Hawley picked up their fifth win at the top flight with an 8-5 win over Lauren Corcoran and Adrienne D'Alewyn.

Denison secured the win by taking five of the six singles flights. Hawley earned her fourth win No. 1 singles with a 6-3, 6-0 win over D'Alewyn, while Alsup won her ninth match of the season. Alsup defeated Butterworth 6-2, 6-0 at third singles, while Hammons knocked off Diamond Person 6-0, 6-2 at the sixth flight.

Hickey and Torrence picked up the final two singles victories at fourth and fifth, respectively. Hickey knocked off Reams 6-2, 6-3, while Torrence defeated Keisha Cummings in three sets (6-3, 1-6, 10-6).

With the win, DU improved to 5-5 on the year and 1-0 in NCAC West play, while the Bishops fall to 4-3 and 0-1 in divisional play. The Big Red returns to action this Saturday when they travel to 21st-ranked Case Western Reserve for a 4 p.m. match.