Wellesley, MA...The College of New Jersey women's tennis earned a 5-4 win over Skidmore College on Saturday in the opening round of the Wellesley College Invitational in Massachusetts.

The victory puts the Lions at 10-1 on the season.

TCNJ started the match earning two of three points in doubles play as the first pairing of Karisse Bendijo (Egg Harbor Twp., NJ/Egg Harbor Twp.) and Allison Tierney (Berkeley Heights, NJ/Governor Livingston) won 8-5, while the third tandem of Felice Trinh (Linden, NJ/Linden) and Emily Petersack (Mercerville, NJ/Notre Dame) picked up an 8-6 triumph.

Bendijo added a win in the top single slot by the scores of 6-0, 6-2, while Tierney won 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7-1) in the third position. Adding TCNJ's final win was Lauren Balsamo (Wall Twp., NJ/Wall) as she outlasted her opponent in the fifth spot 6-2, 6-7 (5-7), 6-4.

TCNJ is right back on the court tomorrow facing Tufts University.

The College of New Jersey 5, Skidmore College 4
Singles competition
1. Karisse Bendijo (TCNJ) def. Rachel Loeb (SKID) 6-0, 6-2
2. Melissa Hirsch (SKID) def. Felice Trinh (TCNJ) 6-2, 6-4
3. Allison Tierney (TCNJ) def. Nataly Mendoza (SKID) 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7-1)
4. Tory Engros (SKID) def. Paige Aiello (TCNJ) 6-2, 6-0
5. Lauren Balsamo (TCNJ) def. Sophia Bryan-Ajania (SKID) 6-2, 6-7 (5-7), 6-4
6. Robyn Baird (SKID) def. Emily Petersack (TCNJ) 7-6 (7-2), 6-3

Doubles competition
1. Karisse Bendijo/Allison Tierney (TCNJ) def. Rachel Loeb/Nataly Mendoza (SKID) 8-5
2. Tory Engros/Sophia Bryan-Ajania (SKID) def. Paige Aiello/Lauren Balsamo (TCNJ) 8-4
3. Felice Trinh/Emily Petersack (TCNJ) def. Melissa Hirsch/Molly Nolan (SKID) 8-6