The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women's tennis team got off to a strong start in the season opening Elon Invitational on Friday.  The Mocs went 4-1 in singles play and 3-1 in doubles action. 

Senior Alison Storie represented the Mocs in the No. 2 Phoenix Draw, opening with a (6-4, 6-3) loss to Elon's Erica Braschi.  Senior Katie Polk battled back for a win over UNC Asheville's Shipley in the Acorn Flight.  She dropped the first set 6-1, and had to fight in the second for a 7-5 win.  She took the match with a 6-0 shutout in the third. 

Junior Rachele Gazzola scored a (6-1, 6-2) win over Furman's Karlee Byrde in the Acorn draw.  Freshmen Sydney Patton and McKenzie Barco both had wins in their collegiate debut.  Patton defeated Emory's Goodman (6-3, 6-2) in the Gold Flight.  Barco scored a (6-1, 6-3) win over Western Carolina's Gaby Hurt in the Oak Flight. 

Polk and Gazzola teamed up in the Acorn Doubles Flight.  They went 1-1 on the day and are in Sunday's consolation finals.  Patton and Storie were impressive in the Powell Doubles Draw.  They only dropped two games in two wins to advance to Sunday's finals. 

Second round action begins tomorrow at 8:30 a.m. (E.D.T), followed by consolation play at 11:00 a.m. Complete updated draws are attached to this story.  Be sure to check back to GoMocs.com for complete results.      

Elon Invitational Results
Phoenix (2) Singles Flight
Erica Braschi (Elon) def. Alison Storie (UTC) – 6-4, 6-3

Acorn (3) Singles Flight
Rachele Gazzola (UTC) def. Karlee Bryde (Furman) – 6-1, 6-2

Gold (4) Singles Flight
Sydney Patton (UTC) def. Goodman (Emory) – 6-3, 6-2

Powell (5) Singles Flight
Katie Polk (UTC) def. Shipley (UNCA) – 1-6, 7-5, 6-0

Oak (6) Singles Flight
McKenzie Barco (UTC) def. Gaby Hurt (WCU) – 6-1, 6-3

Oak (3) Doubles Flight
Tijana Uelac/Monica Aguado (Winthrop) def. Katie Polk/Rachele Gazzola (UTC) – 8-7 (2)
Katie Polk/Rachele Gazzola (UTC) def. Emily Groeneveld/Aleksandra Panchenko (Liberty) – 8-6

Powell (5) Flight
Sydney Patton/Alison Storie (UTC) def. Louw/Francisco (UNCA) – 8-1
Sydney Patton/Alison Storie (UTC) def. Nicole Nielly/Montse Mesalles (WCU) – 8-1