DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Embry-Riddle women's tennis team's 2012 campaign got off to a strong start as the Eagles blanked Sun Conference opponent Ave Maria 9-0, Tuesday at the Crotty Tennis Complex. The victory came just moments before the Eagles learned of their No. 3 ranking in the Women's Tennis Coaches' Preseason Top 25 poll, which was released by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics on Monday evening. ERAU received 234 points in the poll and the 2011 national semifinalists are ranked behind defending national champion Auburn Montgomery (247 points) and Fresno Pacific (245 points).  

The start of Tuesday's match against Ave Maria saw all three doubles teams register shutouts to give the Eagles a 3-0 lead heading into singles play. The ninth-ranked tandem of Rocio Frej Vitalle and Ekaterina Kamendova was the first to complete its match, topping Julia Sadosky and Eileen Lee at the No. 2 spot. Paola Montero and Kristina Marova, ranked 14th in the NAIA, followed with an 8-0 defeat of Luciana Romero and Mary Jaindl at No. 3 and fourth-ranked Yi Ching Chen and Josefine Strom bested Heather Esber and Jaclyn Ruiz to complete the doubles sweep.

Fifth-ranked Frej Vitalle was the first to finish her singles match at the No. 2 spot as she easily dispatched Ruiz 6-1, 6-0. The reigning Sun Conference Player of the Year, Chen scored the clincher with a 6-0, 6-0 decision against Esber at the top singles spot and Kamendova (14th), Marova (28th) and Montero all registered shutouts to help the Eagles to their first win of the season.

ERAU will be back in action on Saturday when they travel to Miami to take on another conference foe, St. Thomas at 10 a.m. The Eagles will close out their two-match road trip on Sunday against NCAA II No. 4 Barry. That match is also slated for 10 a.m.