At the beginning of the season, it’s always nice to make a smashing entrance.

Last weekend, the Saint Louis University women’s tennis team opened the fall season with an energetic start by hosting the Fall Women’s Tennis Classic.

The Bills welcomed Eastern Illinois, Memphis, Southeast Missouri State, Wichita State University and Xavier to open their fall season of competition.

“We worked hard and exceeded our expectations,” said sophomore co-captain Amy O’Handley. “We went from having a small team last year to having nine girls this year, and our fitness has improved, which helped in the long matches.”

Senior Vicki Zielinski lost to Eastern Illinois’ Becky Brunner Friday morning in the first round of play 6-3, 6-2, 6-0.

She moved into the consolation bracket and came back to beat Amanda Cervantes from Wichita State in her first match Saturday morning, with a score of 3-6, 6-3, 6-2. Later that day she defeated Brunner by default. Brunner was injured. Zielinski then went on to win the A singles consolation match Sunday morning against Western Illinois’ Ana Exeni by a score of 6-4, 6-3.

Friday afternoon, senior Melisa Lemus triumphed over Eastern Illinois’ Jana Matouskova 7-6, 7-5 in the A singles division. The next morning, Monica Gonzalez-Gordo of Memphis beat Lemus 6-3, 3-6, 4-1. Sunday morning Lemus lost to Xavier’s Lauren Clary 6-1, 6-4 in the third place match.

In the B singles, O’Handley triumphed over Wichita State’s Genevieve Spinks 6-2, 6-2 in the first round. The next day, O’Handley lost to Memphis’ Sumitra Rao 6-4, 6-2. Sunday morning O’Handley lost to Xavier’s Kate Weightman 6-1, 7-5, in the third place match.

“In my first match against Wichita State, we had some good points and some good rallies, but I knew that I was in better shape than I had been last year,” O’Handley said. “It helped keep me from wearing down too quickly during the match.”

Friday morning, sophomore Melissa Cutler beat Eastern Illinois’ Ivana Milosovec 6-2, 6-2. However, Cutler was edged out later that day by Kristen Clary from Xavier 6-2,

7-5.

On Saturday morning Cutler rallied back and defeated Eastern Illinois’ Sarah Freeman 6-2, 6-4 and then went on to capture the C singles consolation match over Xavier’s Andrea Kelly with a score of 4-6, 6-3, 7-6.

Junior Erin Kersten beat Sarah Freeman from Eastern Illinois Friday morning with a score of 7-6, 6-4. The next day Kersten lost to Memphis’ Andrea Feichtinger 6-1, 6-4. On Sunday Kersten lost to Xavier’s Clary 6-0, 6-0 in the third place match.

Freshman Lindsay Winniger lost to Xavier’s Sarah Potts 6-4, 6-3 in the C bracket.

In the consolation round, Winneger defeated South East Missouri State’s Cassie Foster. Later that day Winniger lost to Memphis’ Kristen Noble 6-3, 6-1.

“Our C and D players did well. Kristen Doyle was not seeded going into the tournament and ended up coming in third. She really jumped up during the tournament,” O’Handley said.

Doyle defeated Xavier’s Maggie Nafziger on Friday afternoon 1-6, 6-4, 6-3.

Doyle then lost to Xavier’s Emily Tuchscherer 6-4, 6-2 the next day. Doyle received a third place finish in the D singles with a win over Xavier’s Katy Wiles with a score of 1-6, 6-4, 6-3.

Junior Rebecca Steer lost Friday afternoon to Xavier’s Tuchscherer 6-0, 6-1. In the consolation round Steer defeated Southeast Missouri State’s Amanda Walker 6-0, 6-3. Later that day Steer lost to Xavier’s Nafziger 6-4, 6-3.

Lemus/Zielinski beat Xavier’s Weightman/K. Clary in the A doubles bracket. Lemus/Zielinski then defeated Memphis’ Gruber/Rao 8-1. Lemus/Zielinski won first place with a score of 8-2 over Clary/Bauer from Xavier.

In the B doubles, Doyle/Steer lost to Xavier’s Nafziger/Tuchsherer 9-7. In the consolation round Doyle/Steer lost to Wichita State’s Spinks/Webster 8-3.

Kersten/Winninger defeated Eastern Illinois’ Matouskova/ Milosevic by injury default. Kersten/Winninger the next day lost to Xavier’s Dressman/Wiles 9-7.

Kersten/Winninger, then lost to Xavier’s Kelley/Potts 9-8 on Sunday in the third place match.

On Sept. 23 the men’s and women’s teams will travel to Macomb, Ill., to play Western Illinois for dual matches.