SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. (Sept. 28, 2010) – Led by first year Maya Sayarath and senior Elise Marifian, the Mount Holyoke College women's tennis team cruised to a 7-2 triumph over longtime rival Smith College this evening at the Mount Holyoke Field House.

After posting their second straight win as a doubles tandem, Sayarath and Marifian each recorded victories in their respective singles matches to help seal things for the Lyons. It was Mount Holyoke's first win of the 2010-11 campaign and its second straight over the Pioneers. They are now 1-3 overall and 1-2 versus New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) foes. Smith has gone winless thus far this season.

Mount Holyoke took all three doubles matches to set the tone in the early going. Sayarath and Marifian got things started with an 8-2 triumph at the number three slot. Senior Natalie Hsiang and junior Sarah Moore picked up an 8-2 win in their number one contest, while first years AnnElizabeth Konkel and Kelsey Brower prevailed 9-8 (7-3) in their number two tilt.

The Lyons then came out on top in four of the six singles matches to put things away. Sayarath sprinted to a 6-0, 6-2 win at the number six slot, while sophomore Nahrhee Han earned a 6-3, 6-3 victory in her number one contest. After dropping her first set, Marifian rebounded to win her number three match by a score of 2-6, 6-3, 6-4. Meanwhile, junior Heather Richardson picked up a 6-4, 5-7, 10-7 at number four.

Smith's two points came from seniors Nicole Anderson and Margaret Steiner, who pulled out three set victories at the numbers two and five positions, respectively.

Mount Holyoke (1-3, 1-2 NEWMAC) will return to action on Thursday, when it entertains Simmons College at 5:00 p.m. Meanwhile, Smith (0-3, 0-3 NEWMAC) is slated to play its second of three straight road contests at Babson College on Saturday beginning at 1:00 p.m.