NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. -- The Allegheny College women's tennis team began the road to defending its Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) championship with a 7-0 shutout victory at Westminster College on Wednesday evening.

The Gators (1-0, 1-0 PAC) won their 25th consecutive regular-season match against a PAC opponent by taking down the shorthanded Titans (1-1, 0-1 PAC), who failed to field a third doubles team and forfeited the No. 6 singles match.

Gabrielle Bassette (Miami, Fla./Miami Country Day School) and Evie Ellenberger (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair), the top doubles team, dropped only one game en route to a 6-1 win against Westminster's Christine Rossi and Megan Blasko. Bassette then defeated Rossi one-on-one in the No. 1 singles match by scores of 6-3 and 6-2.

Maria Lounder (Pittsburgh, Pa./Moon Area) was the only singles player to hold her opponent scoreless. The senior defeated Emily Klaus in consecutive sets in the No. 5 contest, 6-0, 6-0.

Doubles Results
1. Gabrielle Bassette / Evie Ellenberger def. Christine Rossi / Megan Blasko, 6-1
2. Maria Lounder / Adriana Navarro def. Emma Overlingas / Grace Askey, 6-4
3. Anabel Bachman / Giada Palmieri won by forfeit

Singles Results
1. Gabrielle Bassette def. Christine Rossi, 6-3, 6-2
2. Emiliia Grydnieva def. Emma Overlingas, 6-1, 6-1
3. Giada Palmieri def. Megan Blasko, 6-2, 6-0
4. Rei Etsumi def. Grace Askey, 6-1, 6-2
5. Maria Lounder def. Emily Klaus, 6-0, 6-0
6. Anabel Bachman won by forfeit

Up Next
The Gators will travel to the College of Wooster on Saturday, September 13, and Sunday, September 14, to compete in the Wooster Invitational.