GRINNELL, Iowa – The Grinnell College women's tennis team began its 2012 campaign on a strong note Thursday, beating a tough Augustana College squad 7-2 on a hot afternoon at 10th Avenue Courts.

Double winners for the Pioneers were Shirlene Luk '15, Constanza Alarcon '13 and Clothilde Thirouin '14. Luk posted a 6-1, 6-2 victory at No. 2 singles and teamed up with Thirouin to win 8-3 at No. 2 doubles.

Alarcon was victorious 6-1, 6-1 at No. 3 singles and earned an 8-1 victory with Laura Krull '14 at No. 1 doubles. Thirouin won 7-6, 6-2 at No. 4 singles. Other singles winners for Grinnell were Hanna Feldman '14 at No. 5 (6-4, 6-2) and Catherine Fitch '13 at No. 6 (7-5, 6-3).

“It was a good start to the season for us,” said Grinnell coach Andy Hamilton. “While the score was 7-2, most matches were hotly-contested. Like most teams at the beginning of the season, we're still looking for consistency. As we're able to find it, our level of play will get better.”

Hamilton dished out credit to the double winners. “Constanza, Shirlene and Clo are great ball strikers, and they coupled that ability with some upperclass-level maturity,” he said.

The coach also dished out credit to Augustana. “We're happy to play against a quality program like Augustana in what figures to be a very competitive non-conference match every season we face them,” he said. “I'm sure they will have a fine season.”

The Pioneers will participate in the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Invitational on Saturday.