BOONE, N.C. – Another weather-shortened match had no effect on Appalachian State University women's tennis, as it cruised to a 5-1 win over visiting West Virginia State on Sunday at Yonahlossee Racquet Club.

The Mountaineers (4-3) picked up their fourth-straight home win and dealt the Yellow Jackets (0-1) a loss in their season-opener after entering the match ranked No. 49 in the NCAA Division II ITA Rankings.

Appalachian took the doubles point easily as the No. 2 tandem of Melissa Machado and Megan Mullen grabbed a 6-0 win before the No. 3 duo of Gabrielle Wreder and McKayla Zupan cruised to a  6-3 win to take the doubles point.

In singles play, West Virginia State was able to get on the board as Brittany Franco scored a 7-6, 6-4 win over Clare Cox at the No. 1 spot.

It would be all App State from there, as the Mountaineers grabbed straight-set wins in the next four singles matches. Mackenzie LaSure was a 6-0, 6-1 winner at No. 2 while Brianna Armellino came away with a 6-1, 6-2 decision at No. 3.

Wreder grabbed Appalachian's match-clinching fourth point with a 6-2, 6-2 win at No. 4 before Machado earned the final point of the day with a 6-1, 6-4 victory at No. 5.

Olivia King was tied, 4-4, at No. 6 with WVSU's Brenda Cumpa, but the match went unfinished so the visitors could hit the road before a major winter storm began to move towards the east coast.

Appalachian State returns to action on Friday for a 3 p.m. contest against Radford before hitting the road to take on Gardner-Webb on Saturday. The Mountaineers will also play host to North Carolina Central on Feb. 22 before a nine-match road trip to begin the month of March.

Appalachian State 5, West Virginia State 1
Feb 15, 2015 at Boone, N.C. (Yonahlossee Racquet Club)