The DU women’s tennis team opened their fall season with strong matches against in-state rival Colorado at the CU Invitational this past weekend in Boulder.

The Pioneers started off the season strong after beating the Buffaloes in six of 12 singles matches and two out of the three doubles matches on Sunday.

The University of New Mexico, the other team scheduled to play in the three team event, withdrew from the tournament due to weather.

Led by first year head coach Amy Jenson, the Pioneers got two singles wins from both Sophomore Annette Aksdal and Senior Marisa Mechem on Sunday.

Aksdal, playing number two singles, defeated both Franziska Jendrian and Camila Belassi in straight sets.

Playing in the number five spot, Machem first won a hard fought match with CU’s Martina Sedivec 6-2, 1-6, 6-4. Then, facing Christina Macey, Machem dominated with a straight set win, 6-0, 6-1.

The other two DU singles victories were earned by sophomores Kyla Iwinski and Lorinda Boothman.

The Pioneers’ strong singles play left the team match to be decided by the three doubles matches.

After Aksdal and Iwinski teamed up to lose the number one doubles match to CU’s Melisa Esposito and Martina Sedivec 8-6, the Pioneers then won the last two matches 8-3 in each.

DU’s number one singles player, Rachel Sackmaster, teamed with Julia Bauregger for the Pioneers’ first doubles win, while Boothman and Mechem combined for the other.

Friday’s matches against New Mexico were cancelled due to their withdrawl form the tournament.

Instead, the Pioneers played an extra match against CU on Saturday, winning only two singles matches and being swept in doubles.

Bauregger and Boothman earned both of DU’s singles wins.

The Pioneers look to continue their strong play when they are in action again Friday at the San Diego Invite.