The Army women’s tennis team opened up the spring portion of its season with a 6-1 victory over visiting Binghamton University at the Lichtenburg Tennis Center Sunday.

Binghamton, playing short-handed, had to forfeit the sixth singles and third doubles contests and did not have enough to compensate for the lost points. Army swept the first two doubles with senior Cheryl Hamilton and sophomore Annie Collier teaming up at first doubles for an 8-2 win. Junior Melissa Sentelle and freshman Sara Matthews shut out their opponents at second doubles 8-0.

When Army took the third, fourth and fifth singles matches in straight sets, the outcome of the match was decided. Collier, freshman Melanie Bundoc and junior Jaclyn Ott were the victorious trio for the Black Knights. Hamilton, at second singles, won 6-0, 4-6, (7-2) in a match that saw the third game played in a tie-breaker format.

Binghamton captured the first singles match with Marie Ongseng defeating Annie Weber 6-1, 7-6, (7-4). The third game of that match was also played in a tie-breaker format.

In the nightcap with Seton Hall, Army held a 3-2 advantage going into the final two matches. But the Pirates rallied to win both matches and steal the victory from the host Black Knights.

Seton Hall’s Kim Barfuss at second singles rallied from a 5-4 deficit, winning the next three games, and beat Hamilton 7-5 in the decisive third game. That tied the match at 3-3 and set the stage for a dramatic finish between both school’s best players.

Weber and Seton Hall’s Kylie Lassalle traded the lead most of the way. Weber trailed 5-4 heading into the 10th game of the match with the serve. However, a service error and an unforced error in that game cost the Black Knight’s as Lassalle was able to hang on for the 6-4 win, clinching the match for the Pirates.

Other victors for Army were Collier at fourth singles, Bundoc at fifth singles and Sentelle at sixth singles. All three were straight-set winners as Army dominated the lower portion of the singles matches.

Seton Hall took the doubles point with its victories at first and second doubles. The Black Knights’ tandem of Sentelle and Matthews at third doubles earned Army a split but was not enough to earn them the crucial point.