Simmons Tennis earned a decisive 8-1 victory over Smith College on Saturday to open the spring 2011 season and prepare for the NCAA Tournament.

Junior Maggie Taylor (Yarmouth, Maine) defeated Eunice Zhao at No. 5 singles, winning 7-5, 7-6 (7-5). Junior Athena Lynch (Andover, Mass.) earned a 6-2, 6-3 win over Allie Ryan at No. 6 singles, and senior Katy Hallinan (Maynard, Mass.) defeated Meghan Smith, 6-0, 6-1, at No. 2.  Smith's Gianna Teague fell to her Simmons namesame Margaret Teague (Manchester, N.H.) 6-1, 6-0 at No. 1.

Smith's Maggie Steiner took Smith's only win of the day, beating senior Maile Macleod (Carlsbad, Calif.) 6-2, 6-3 at No. 2 singles.

Doubles play was closer, with Macleod and sophomore Sabrina Salmela (Beverly, Mass.) edging out Teague and Smith 8-6 at No. 1. Teague and freshman Alison Bodek (Lynnfield, Mass.) ran to an 8-1 win over Steiner and Rachel Canfora at No. 2 doubles, while Taylor and Hallinan defeated Zhao and Julia Signell 8-5 at No. 3.

Simmons will host Northeastern next Saturday, April 2 at noon, while Smith will take on Springfield College at 9:30 am and RPI at 2:30 pm the same day.