FAIRFAX, Va. -- On the opening weekend of competition for the 2019-20 season, the Christopher Newport women's tennis team played a pair of matches against Division I competition at the George Mason Invite. Playing a mock dual format on the NCAA Division I scoring system, the Captains faced Delaware State and the host Patriots.

Against the Hornets, Christopher Newport picked up the doubles point with a sweep of all three matches. Veterans Johanna Ranta-aho and Kara Ferner paired up for a 6-3 win at No. 1 doubles, dropping Cassandra Boltman and Lolita Kozina. Olivia Reed and Amanda Yermal picked up a 6-4 win against Anastasia Belkina and Iris Leder at No. 2 and Maygan Brewer played with Reagan Delp for a 7-6 victory at No. 3 over Alina Polyvana and Christopher Newport fill-in Ana Clara Borga. 

In singles play, Ranta-aho swept Bolton on the top line for a 6-1, 7-6 victory, as did Ferner and Delp at 3 and 4 singles. Ferner defeated Belkina 6-1, 6-1 and Delp downed Leder 6-1, 6-0. 

The Captains then took on George Mason and again captured the doubles point with wins at 1 and 2. Ranta-aho and Ferner slipped past Paige La and Hannah Yang in a 7-6 final. Delp and Yermal added a win by retirement to clinch the doubles point. 

In singles, Ferner and Yermal added wins for the Captains at 2 and 3. Ferner defeated Yang in a win by retirement after leading the first set, 3-2. Yermal downed Jackie Nannery 6-4, 6-1 to earn her first singles win of the year. 

Christopher Newport will return to action this weekend as they host the CNU Invitational from September 13-15.