NEWPORT NEWS -- The return of Sarah Stafford from injury and the first collegiate victory for freshman Jackie Gomez highlighted the Christopher Newport women's tennis team's 9-0 home victory Wednesday against USA South rival Mary Baldwin.

Stafford, the Captains' No. 1 player, had missed the previous two matches with a foot problem, but she came back to join Marion Gloor for an 8-1 doubles victory and then won 6-0, 6-0 in singles.

Gomez, who played No. 2 for Bethel High's Peninsula District championship team last season and patiently has been a reserve on the CNU team, won 6-0, 6-1 at No. 6.

CNU lost just two games of the 98 played against the Squirrels and improved to 8-2, 2-0 in the conference.

Also prevailing -- all by shutouts -- were the doubles teams of Morgan Huff-Kim Morrissett and Melisande Downs-Lauren Kelly, and then Huff, Morrissett, Gloor and Jodi Noland in singles.

The Captains next will travel to Raleigh, N.C., for a two-match stay. They'll play at 1 p.m. Saturday against Peace, then will have a 1 p.m. Sunday match against Meredith -- the team that eliminated them from last year's USA South tournament in a 7-2 semifinal.

CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT 9, MARY BALDWIN 0
Doubles
1. Marion Gloor-Sarah Stafford d. Erica Gaughan-Gretchen Domaleski 8-1.
2. Morgan Huff-Kim Morrissett d. Victoria Ferguson-Dalila Smith 8-0.
3. Melisande Downs-Lauren Kelly d. Meg Pitts-Christina Leyton 8-0.

Singles
1. Stafford d. Gaughan 6-0, 6-0.
2. Huff d. Domaleski 6-0, 6-0.
3. Morrissett d. Ferguson 6-0, 6-0.
4. Gloor d. Smith 6-0, 6-0.
5. Jodi Noland d. Pitts 6-0, 6-0.
6. Jackie Gomez d. Christina Leyton 6-0, 6-1.

Record
CNU 8-2, 2-0 USA South.