Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University women’s tennis team opened the 2013 portion of its schedule with a convincing 9-0 triumph over Johnson C. Smith University at the WU Tennis Complex. The Bulldogs (3-0 overall) are the number 30 team in the Campbell/Intercollegiate Tennis Association NCAA Division II top 50 rankings.
 
Seniors Helen Goreski (Oakville, Ontario) and Kelli Ferguson (Concord, N.C.) contributed to two victories. Goreski defeated JCSU sophomore Nichelle Heard (Douglasville, Ga.) 6-0, 6-1 at the number five singles flight. Ferguson paired with freshman Caroline Holland (Spartanburg, S.C.) to defeat JCSU sophomore Rankin Anderson (Decatur, Ga.) and freshman Khadijha Battle (Atlanta, Ga.) 8-3 in the number one doubles match.
 
Holland stopped Smith junior Keiana Love (Wilson, N.C.) 6-1, 6-1 at the number two singles position. At the number one singles flight, Wingate junior Ali Evers (Roswell, Ga.) defeated Anderson 6-1, 6-0. Evers also collected a doubles victory with classmate Morgan Winston (Lawrenceville, Ga.). The Evers and Winston tandem topped Love and senior Samantha Barnes (Hampton, Va.) 8-2 at the number two spot.
 
The Bulldogs host number 10 Francis Marion in an NCAA Division II Southeast Region contest Saturday at 12 noon. Wingate opens South Atlantic Conference play Tuesday, Feb. 12 versus Lenoir-Rhyne at Hickory High School (2:30 p.m. first serve). Johnson C. Smith (0-5 overall) hosts Belmont Abbey Friday at 2 p.m.