BLACKSBURG, Va. - The Western Carolina women's tennis team traveled to Blacksburg, Va., to take on #30 Virginia Tech in its opening match of the year. The Catamounts fell 6-1 in the match with senior Erin Maguire picking up the lone victory.

Maguire starts the season on a positive note and is 1-0 on the season, she took down Mariana Silva 6-2, 6-1.

The loss leaves WCU at 0-1 for the season while the Hokies improved to 1-0.

Senior Megan McLinden and freshman Savannah Taranto fell at No. 2 doubles to Elena Cerezo-Codina and Caroline Daxhelet 6-1 while sophomore Montse Mesalles and freshman Gaby Hurt fell at No. 3, 6-1.

Sophomore Elizabeth Ansari dropped her match in the No. 4 singles slot 6-1, 6-0 to Sansitha Nandakumar. While senior Shannon Bettiol's loss at No. 3, 6-1, 6-1, to Kelly Williford put the Catamounts in a 3-0 overall hole. The clinching match point came at the No. 1 spot as senior Stacia Kissell fell to Francesca Fusinato 6-3, 6-3.

Maguire then defeated Mariana Silva 6-2, 6-1 at the No. 6 slot to put the Catamounts on the board at 4-1. Taranto then fell to Katherine Butler 6-4, 6-4 in the No. 5 spot while McLinden dropped the final point in the No. 2 spot to Cerezo-Codina 6-2, 7-5.

The Catamounts will be back in action Sunday, January 17 against Radford in a neutral site match in Blacksburg, Va. at 10 a.m.