WASHINGTON, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson women's tennis team (4-0) defeated Mount Union (0-1) 4-3 in a nonconference matchup at the Janet Swanson Tennis Center.   

The Purple Raiders started strong, taking the doubles point. The Presidents took momentum from a 6-3 win by junior captain Claire Loomis (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair) and freshman Keiran Moorhead (Canonsburg, Pa./Peters Township) at No. 1 doubles into singles. 

Moorhead kicked off individual play with a swift 6-3, 6-1 win at the No. 3 position. Bella Graham (Altoona, Pa./Altoona Area) also won 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 at the No. 2 position to give the Presidents the lead, 2-1. The Purple raiders tied it up at two, before freshman Maya Hamade (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper Saint Clair) won at No. 4 singles 6-2, 6-7(5), 6-1 to give the lead back to the Presidents. The Purple Raiders then tied it up at three with a win at No. 5 singles. In the deciding match, freshman Austyn Paugh (Jane Lew, W.Va./Notre Dame) had her second clinch of the season with a 6-3, 7-5 at No. 6 singles. 

The Presidents look to build upon their best start since 2015 as they return to Presidents' Athletic Conference on the road to battle the Franciscan Barons on Wednesday (Sept. 17). Doubles matches will begin at 4:00 p.m. and singles matches will follow thereafter.