Franklin, Ind. - The Franklin College women's tennis team earned an impressive 8-1 home victory over Transylvania University to open Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) play on Saturday at the Mickel-Hoover Tennis Complex.

The Grizzlies (1-0) led 2-1 after picking up 8-4 triumphs on the No. 2 and No. 3 doubles courts.

Senior Bethany Harris (Avon, Ind./Avon) teamed with sophomore Emily Helvie (Batesville, Ind./Batesville) at the No. 2 doubles position. Seniors Julie Bazan (St. Louis, Mo./Villa Duchesne) and Becky Bonomini (Lawrenceburg, Ind./East Central) were victorious on the No. 3 doubles court.

Franklin swept all six singles matches in straight sets.

Junior Melissa Sanders (Columbus, Ind./Columbus North) defeated Transylvania's Claire Mielcarek 6-1, 6-4 at the top of the singles lineup. Sanders was the 2013 HCAC Most Valuable Player.

Junior Emily Roberts (Franklin, Ind./Edinburgh) won by identical 6-1 set scores at the No. 3 singles position. Harris dropped only one game on the No. 2 singles court.

Junior Chelsea Howell (West Harrison, Ind./Franklin County) was victorious 6-2, 6-3 at the No. 4 singles position. Sophomore Kayla Walker (Indianapolis, Ind./Southport) and junior Chelsea Platt (Shelbyville, Ind./Morristown) rounded out the winners at the No. 5 and 6 positions.

Franklin returns to action on Sunday, September 14 at noon when it travels to IU-Southeast.