Shorter tennis kicked off the 2017 season Friday afternoon travelling to Americus, Ga. to take on Georgia Southwestern in non-conference action.

The Lady Hawks came away with a season opening sweep, topping the Canes 8-0; while the Hawks' matchup with GSW was cut short due to rain, but at the time of suspension Shorter led 4-2.

Shorter's women jumped out to an early lead, winning all three doubles matches. Aleksandra Durzynski and Martina Radinovic turned in an 8-0 win at number one in their first time out for Shorter; while the lone pair back from last season of Cassandra Wennestrom and Julie Rinderknech turned in an 8-4 win at number two. Monika Gredzinski and her new partner, Melinda Chrun, earned the win 9-8 after winning the tiebreaker 7-2.

In singles, Wennestrom took her match 7-5, 6-0 over Maria Toboada at number one; while Dyrzynski earned a 6-2, 6-0 win over Hannah Ayers at number two. Rinderknech was the winner at number three 7-5, 6-0 over Celia Castillo Torres, and Chun tallied a 6-2, 6-2 win over Charli Allen at number four. Gredzinksi tallied the last victory of the day at number five coming back from a 6-1 loss in the first set to take a 6-4 win in the second and 10-4 win in the tiebreak to take the match. Radinovic's singles match was left unfinished.

For the men, the Hawks were mounting a comeback after falling behind 2-1 after doubles with the lone win coming at number one as Jose Manuel Moreno Manzano and Jimmy Kerjouan defeated Canovas Ferrando and Beau Millwod 8-2.

In singles, Moreno Manzano earned a win at number one; topping Ferrando 6-3, 6-3. Talha Zubair posted a straight set 6-0, 6-0 win over Millwood at number three and Patrick Sanders earned a 6-4, 6-3 win over Joel Landis at number four. Kerjouan, Arthur Amat, and Arthur Tourlousse each were unable to finish their singles matches when the contest called due to rain.

The teams will be back in action on February 8 when they travel to Columbus, Ga. to take on Columbus State beginning at 2:00pm.