Oceanside, N.Y. - The Adelphi University women's tennis team waited over 500 days to begin its defense of last year's NE10 regular-season title and kicked it off Sunday with a 4-0 shutout of Assumption College at the Point Set Indoor Racquet Club in Oceanside.

"It was an absolute blessing to be able to play our first match of the season after a very difficult year," said Head Coach Rebecca Fakas. "First and foremost, we are thankful for everyone that made it possible for us to have this opportunity to compete again."

"I am very happy with the team for coming out and getting a solid win today, and we are looking forward to building upon this performance."

To create less exposure between the student-athletes, the Panthers (1-0, 1-0 NE10) and Greyhounds (0-1, 0-1 NE10) played the match to decision.

The doubles matches each counted as one point. Adelphi's No. 1 (Barbie Quagliardi, Nicole Kielan) and No. 2 (Amanda Franstedt, Nicole Stay) doubles tandems both won by identical 6-3 decisions.

In singles, Kielan swept Jessica Crosby, 6-0, 6-0, at No. 5 singles. Stay shut the door witth a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Aimee Figgins at the No. 4 flight.

Although their matches went unfinished, Quagliardi, Kielan and Franstedt all took the first set of their tilts at No. 1, 2 and 3 singles, respectively.

Head Coach Rebecca Fakas and the Panthers now take to the road, starting Wednesday (Mar. 17) with a St. Patrick's Day showdown at NE10 foe University of New Haven at Milford Indoor Tennis Center at noon.