JONESBORO, Ga. – Eighth-seeded USC Aiken opened the 2009 Peach Belt Conference Women's Tennis Tournament with a 5-1 win over ninth-seeded UNC Pembroke at the Clayton County Tennis Center.

USC Aiken improved to 12-9 overall with its victory over UNC Pembroke.

The Pacers won two of the three doubles matches with the team of Stephanie Humphrey and Marie Soledad Angel prevailing at No. 1 and Mathilde Grenet and Brittany Telford winning at No. 2. In singles, USC Aiken got victories from Angel (No. 3), Telford (No. 4) and Brittany Gore (No. 5).

The match was one of three play-in matches for the right to advance to Saturday's quarterfinals.

In the end, USC Aiken, Georgia College and Lander each advanced in Friday's opening day of play at the Clayton County Tennis Center.

In addition to USC Aiken's win over UNCP, sixth-seeded Georgia College blanked #11 Georgia Southwestern 5-0 and seventh-seeded Lander did the same against #10 North Georgia, 5-0.

Saturday's quarterfinals set up with USC Aiken battling top-seeded and defending NCAA Division II National Champion Armstrong Atlantic at 8 a.m., along with the 4-5 seeded showdown between host Clayton State and Augusta State.

The 11 a.m. quarterfinal matches pit Georgia College against third-seeded Francis Marion, and Lander against second-seeded Columbus State.
The semifinals are set for Saturday afternoon.

Clayton State Contributed to this Report