GRINNELL, Iowa – A four-plus month layoff certainly didn't hurt the nationally-ranked Grinnell College women's tennis team, as the Pioneers opened the 2023 portion of their season with an 8-1 win over Central College Saturday.
 
The Pioneers, ranked 35^th nationally and sixth in the region, ran their winning streak to nine matches while improving to 9-1.
 
Grinnell opened the day at the Bear Center Field House by sweeping doubles with the teams of Sabrina Tang '23-Ioanna Giannakou '24 (8-0), Mira Manchanda '24-Erin Jarvis '25 (8-3) and Sophia de los Reyes '23-Kalea Martin '25 (8-2).
 
Tang and Giannakou blanked their singles foes 6-0, 6-0 at the Nos. 1 and 2 spots, respectively. Manchanda and Utsah Kalra '25 won 6-1, 6-0 at Nos. 3 and 4, while Lily Perrin '25 won 6-1, 6-1 at No. 6.
 
Tang now has 70 career singles wins, fourth all-time at Grinnell, and the 47 doubles victories rank 20^th. De los Reyes has 43 doubles wins, 25^th all-time.
 
Grinnell will play the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire next Saturday in Rochester, Minn.