NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – The Sacred Heart University women's tennis team picked up its first Northeast Conference victory at Merrimack on Sunday, 6-1. 
 
The Pioneers are now 5-7 overall and 1-1 in NEC play, while Merrimack suffered its first loss of the season and are now 3-1 overall and 1-1 in the league. 
 
The dominant doubles duo of Katsiaryna Starastsenka and Ciara O'Toole won their second-straight doubles match, 6-1, at first doubles. Renee Sharma and Vitaline Golod also took their second consecutive doubles victory, 6-3, at third doubles to seal the point for the Pioneers. 
 
 Five of SHU's six singles competitors won in straight sets. In second singles, O'Toole dropped a hard-fought three-set battle. After taking the first set, 6-4, Merrimack's Allyson Nerf forced a third set when she squeaked out the second set, 7-5, followed by a 10-6 decision in the third set to complete the match. 
 
SHU is back on Friday when it hosts Stony Brook at 11:30 a.m. at the Tennis Club of Trumbull.