PHILADELPHIA – The University of Pennsylvania women's tennis team had a successful debut to the 2023-24 season over the weekend, hosting Temple, Penn State and LIU for the Penn Invite at the Hamlin and Hecht Tennis Centers.
 
In an event that featured mixing and matching through, Penn played Temple and LIU in doubles and the Sharks in singles on Friday; Penn State in singles and doubles and Temple in singles on Saturday; and Temple in doubles and PSU in singles on Sunday.
 
Three Penn players went unbeaten across four singles matches on the weekend, as Gavriella Smith went 4-0 at the top spot in the ladder and freshman Esha Velaga was 4-0 in the No. 2 spot. Junior Saige Roshkoff was the other player to go 4-0 on the weekend. Another freshman, Sasha Motlagh, was 3-1 in singles while classmate Liza Tkachenko went 2-1 in three singles appearances.
 
Velaga also went unbeaten in four doubles matches over the weekend, winning twice with teammate Eileen Wang and once each with Motlagh and Roshkoff.
 
Penn returns to action again next weekend, heading to William & Mary for the W&M Invitational.