RIPON, Wis. - One of the few Ripon College teams to cancel the entirety of their 2020-21 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ripon's women's tennis team returned to the court Wednesday for their first match in nearly 700 days. You would have never known this was Ripon's first match in nearly two years, as they recorded a clean sweep, defeating Lakeland University 9-0 to win their 2021 season opener.

In doubles play, Hannah Ryback teamed up with Brianna Bembenek at the top flight to win 8-4. The Red Hawks' teams of Tamera Holland/Chase Polyak and Emma Ziebell/Tia Endrizzi were also victorious, winning by identical 8-2 scores at the number two and three flights, respectively.

Ryback also won her singles match, defeating Lakeland's Baylee Babcock 6-1, 6-1 at the top flight. Tia Endrizzi won her number two match 6-2, 6-2, while Sarah Weber recorded the deciding point at number three singles, winning by a score of 6-0, 6-0. Holland and Halle Hadel also saw success, winning at the number four and five flights, respectively, while Chase Polyak won her number six singles match 6-1, 6-3.

The Red Hawks will now try to use this momentum on Saturday when they'll tangle with nearby Marian (Wis.) University. That match will begin at 10:30 a.m. at the Ripon High School Tennis Courts.