Moon Township, Pa. - The Robert Morris University women's tennis team opened its 2009-10 season Saturday afternoon by earning a 4-3 victory over in-state rival Saint Francis (Pa.) at the North Athletic Complex.

The Colonials earned the win over the Red Flash thanks to victories at each of the first three singles flights while sweeping the doubles point.

At the No. 1 singles flight, freshman Clarissa Chen (Winnipeg, Manitoba / Winnipeg Secondary) earned a 3-6, 6-2 and 6-1 victory over Stephanie Rivera. Chen also teamed with freshman Samantha Alves (Rio De Janeiro, Brazil / Rio De Janeiro) to earn an 8-3 victory at the No. 1 doubles flight over Rivera and Abigail Ball.

Alves also produced a victory in singles play, earning a 2-6, 6-4 and 6-1 win over Ball at the No. 2 flight, while freshman Isabella Novella (Santo Andre, Brazil / Santo Andre) claimed a 6-0, 6-2 victory over Samantha Fulchiero at No. 3 singles.

As well as the win for Chen and Alves at the No. 1 doubles flight, Novella and freshman Tiffany Meinert (Turtle Creek, Pa. / Oakland Catholic) earned an 8-2 win over Juliana Gustafson and Maya Ranchod at the No. 2 doubles, while sophomore Ekaterina Rudneva (Leningrad, Russia / Leningrad) and senior Emily Himmel (Columbus, Ohio / Worthington Kilbourne) teamed up for an 8-3 win over Brianna Mapes and Laura Husband.

Robert Morris is next in action Tuesday, Sept. 29, when it visits Division III Allegheny for a 4:00 p.m. match in Meadville, Pa.