AMERICUS, Ga. – The Wildcats started their 2025 season on Sunday morning. Fort Valley State had a tough opening day against Georgia Southwestern in a 7-0 women's tennis defeat.

Despite not winning the doubles point, the Wildcats' third doubles of Gabrielle Ellison and Armani Burch defeated the Hurricanes' EmmaRae Smith and Leila Bustamante by a 7-5 final.

In the fifth singles, Ellison also played tough where she took GSW's Smith to three sets before bowing out at 6-2, 3-6, 6-10.

FVSU returns to action against the same Georgia Southwestern team next Sunday, Feb. 16, in a 10 a.m. match on the Fort Valley courts.

Georgia Southwestern 7, FVSU 0

Doubles

1 – Monique Gundrum/Melissa Duarte (GSW) def. Avery Harris/Samaar Davis (6-0)
2 – Madeline Barnes/Mabry Bowron (GSW) def. Jordynn Middlebrooks/Valerie Dorelien (6-0)

3 – Gabrielle Ellison/Armani Burch (FVSU) def. EmmaRae Smith/Leila Bustamante (7-5)

Singles

1 – Gundrum (GSW) def. Harris (6-1, 6-1)

2 – Duarte (GSW) def. Dorelien (6-2, 6-0)

3 – Barnes (GSW) def. Davis (6-1, 6-0)

4 – Bowron (GSW) def. Middlebrooks (6-2, 6-1)
5 – Smith (GSW) def. Ellison (2-6, 6-3, 10-6)
6 – Bustamante (GSW) def. Burch (6-2, 6-1)

-Wildcats-