NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- After opening up the season 3-0 last weekend in the CNU Quad, the Christopher Newport women's tennis team will look to back up the strong start with two more tough matches this weekend. First, CNU will take on Franklin & Marshall, ranked ninth in the ITA Preseason Regional Rankings, at Noon, followed by a Sunday morning battle with NCAA Division I Norfolk State University. 

The Captains raced out to a 3-0 start despite playing with a very young roster filled with only freshmen and sophomores. In fact, only two second-year players saw action the first weekend, as the Captains dominated Sweet Briar and regionally-ranked Roanoke and Methodist. As a team, CNU opened the season 16-0 in singles play and 9-0 in doubles. 

Leading the way has been freshman McKinney Harwood, playing at the No. 1 line in both singles and doubles. Harwood earned a win over regionally-ranked Caitlin Delmas (Sweet Briar) in her collegiate dual debut, and delivered another singles win against Methodist's top player, Isabella Graf. In doubles action, Harwood paired with classmate Kate Huck to sweep the No. 1 doubles matches from last weekend. 

CNU started the year ranked No. 15 in the preseason poll, and will face off against their second opponent of the season ranked higher when the Diplomats take the court on Saturday. Franklin & Marshall returns all but one starter from last year's team that captured the most wins in a season since 1998 and reached the Centennial Conference tournament for the first time since 2007. 

Dana Sleeper and Megan FitzMaurice are the lone seniors for reigning CC Coach of the Year Sean Kelleher, and will act as the veterans on a talented squad primed to return to the regional elite in 2015. 

On Sunday, the Captains will face the Division I Spartans at 11:00 am. Led by CNU alum and former assistant coach Worth Richardson in his first year at Norfolk State, the Spartans feature a small squad of just seven players. Mafalda Lhorca has the only win in singles play so far in 2015, while Liza Gordeeva and Krystal Scott have paired for the only doubles win of the year. 

Both matches will be played at Centre Court Racquet Club in Newport News, Va.