PHILADELPHIA – The Philadelphia University women's tennis team opened the 2015-16 season off with a 7-2 non-conference victory of the University of the Sciences Thursday afternoon on the McNeil Field Courts.

The victory is the first for head coach Zach Elbin, who took over the program on August 18.

In doubles play, Philadelphia picked up victories at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles to take a 2-1 match lead. Emily Chung (Manhattan Beach, Calif./Mira Costa) and Anna Kudriavtceva (Yekaterinburg, Russia/Grammar School No. 13) recorded an 8-2 victory at No. 2 over Abbygail Gamarnik and Jillyan Serrano. Carly Ragan (Lanoka Harbor, N.J./Lacey Twp.) and Usha Baublitz (New Freedom, Pa./Susquehannock) were victorious in their first match as a duo, 8-2 against Andria Dang and Alexus Rivas.

In singles action, Kudriavtceva and Gamarnik played the match of the afternoon in the No. 2 flight. Kudriavtceva took the opening set 6-3 and Gamarnik came back to win set two 6-4. In the tiebreak, Kudriavtceva handled Gamarnik 10-4 to claim her first singles win of the year.

Julia Arruda (Valinhos, Brazil/Anglo Coc Valinhos) claimed the battle of No. 1s via retirement against Victoria Quang. Arruda was leading 5-1 in the first set when the retirement occurred.

Jala Hamada (Giza, Egpyt/Dar El-Tarbia, IGCSE) cruised to a 6-0, 6-1 victory in her No. 3 singles match with Elkanah Lander. In her first collegiate singles match, Baublitz earned a 6-1, 6-1 win at No. 4 against Serrano.

Mariana Sampaio (Brusque, Brazil/Coelegio Consul Carlos Renaux) picked up a 6-3, 6-1 triumph over Dang at No. 5.

Philadelphia welcomes Shippensburg to the Abraham Salaman Tennis Courts for its home opener on Saturday, Sept. 5 at 10 a.m.