The Lions showed no lingering effects from a loss earlier in the week and watched as their freshmen dominated singles play to set the tone from the outset.,s the Emerson women’s tennis team dismantled Albertus Magnus College 9-0 to improve to 5-5 on the year.

The Lions showed no lingering effects from a loss earlier in the week and watched as their freshmen dominated singles play to set the tone from the outset.

Emerson dropped a total of six games on the day, only four coming in singles play.

Albertus Magnus, playing severely undermanned, had only four players present and thus had to forfeit two singles matches and one doubles match. A tough way to start the day, no doubt, but not even Maria Sharipova or the Williams sisters could have saved Albertus Magnus from this beating.

“We’re really gellin’ right now,” said Head Coach Keith Warner. “Our first three games [of the season] were tough, but after our third match, we really started picking it up.”

Number one, freshman Kayleigh Holt, led the way as she used a power forehand and superior net play to crush Ekuku Hizume, 6-1 6-0. Holt dominated on serve and never looked back after she broke Hizume’s serve early in the first set. She ended her match, after a long volley, with a lunging forehand cross-court winner that provided the exclamation point and pretty much slammed the door on Albertus Magnus.

She was never challenged, and neither were her teammates.

Fellow freshmen Lauren Wilson, Kate Sitarz and Chrissy Laboissonniere made short work of their competition. Wilson picked apart Theresa Fletcher, 6-0, 6-1, with a lethal combination of finesse and power, while Sitarz handled Merdeith Berry 6-1, 6-1.

Laboissonniere pummeled Alice Melkonian 6-0, 6-0, as Emerson’s young guns showed why the future may be now for this team.

“They don’t like to lose,” said Warner. “These girls have a lot of pride. They’re highly motivated to represent this program.”

Losing wasn’t an issue for the Lions on Saturday. After thoroughly crushing Albertus Magnus in singles play, a task that took all of an hour, the bloodbath continued in doubles play.

Senior Captain Jodie Jordan and partner Justine Thurman defeated Hizume and Melkonian 8-2 while Erika Ryberg and Chrysty Skevington blanked Fletcher and Berry 8-0 to finish off play for the day. Had there been a mercy rule, it no doubt would have been enforced.

The Lions finish their regular season with a non-conference game on Monday at Curry College but, for now, can savor an overwhelming victory that gives this young team a chance to finish the year above .500. The future no doubt looks bright for the Lions, but coach Warner knows that there’s still work to be done this year as the Lions eye a postseason berth.

“We’re peaking at the right time,” said Warner. “As long as we improve in one area every week, then I’m happy.”