Mars Hill, N.C. - Appalachian State University women's tennis tore through Division II Mars Hill College Saturday afternoon to defeat the Lions 9-0 at the Hart Tennis Center in Mars Hill. With the win, ASU moves to 6-3 on the season while MHC drops to 3-4.

The Mountaineers got out to an early 3-0 lead by sweeping all three doubles matches.

The youthful duo of Ellie Linsell and Jessica Thaggard recorded the tightest match of the day by winning 8-6 over Erika Pinate and Anna Rickenbaker at the number one pairing. Blakeley Bean and Gisela Fernandez kept it rolling for the Black and Gold as they made quick work of Ona Jane and Jacqueline Rouquet defeating them 8-3 at the No. 2 spot. Jennifer Ansari and Kim-Lea Dinh paired up to complete the sweep over Mars Hill by breezing past Mary Nelson and Jordan Dockery, 8-2.

Linsell led off singles action for Appalachian with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Pinate at the No. 1 position. The English native is currently on a five-match win streak in singles play and improves her season singles record to 8-1.

Ansari and Bean followed suit by thumping their opponents and winning in straight sets at the No. 2 and 3 spots.

Thaggard had an impressive match at number four singles, as she didn't relinquish any points to Rouquet. The freshman from Acworth, Ga. won her match 6-0, 6-0.

Fernandez and Amanda Cash capped off ASU's stellar performance with identical wins at the No. 5 and 6 spots, 6-0, 6-1.

The Black and Gold return to action Sunday at noon for its first home match of the season, and its first Southern Conference match, as the Mountaineers take on Georgia Southern who are 5-5 on the season and 1-2 in SoCon play.

Appalachian State University 9, Mars Hill 0

Singles competition
1. Ellie Linsell (ASU) def. Erika Pinate (MHC) 6-3, 6-3
2. Jennifer Ansari (ASU) def. Ona Jane (MHC) 6-2, 6-1
3. Blakeley Bean (ASU) def. Anna Rickenbaker (MHC) 6-4, 6-2
4. Jessica Thaggard (ASU) def. Jacqueline Rouquet (MHC) 6-0, 6-0
5. Gisela Fernandez (ASU) def. Mary Nelson (MHC) 6-0, 6-1
6. Amanda Cash (ASU) def. Jordan Dockery (MHC) 6-0, 6-1

Doubles competition
1. Linsell/Thaggard (ASU) def. Pinate/Rickenbaker (MHC) 8-6
2. Bean/Fernandez (ASU) def. Jane/Rouquet (MHC) 8-3
3. Ansari/Kim-Lea Dinh (ASU) def. Nelson/Dockery (MHC) 8-2