PHILADELPHIA – The Philadelphia University women's tennis team has its first three-match winning streak of the season after defeating Division I La Salle, 7-2, in a non-conference match Monday afternoon on the Abraham Salaman Tennis Courts.

Philadelphia—who had won back-to-back matches two previous times this year—is now 7-3 overall. La Salle dips to 2-1.

The Rams owned a 3-0 lead after doubles play by sweeping all three matches.

The No. 3 team of junior Sylvia Bennicelli (Lansdale, Pa./Lansdale Catholic) and senior Elizabeth Verbits (Salisbury, Md./James M. Bennett) got the ball rolling with an 8-2 victory over Madison Gillen and Cecile Johnson. Senior Isabella Espinosa (Quito, Ecuador/Colegio Americano de Quito) and freshman Emily Chung (Manhattan Beach, Calif./Mira Costa) added the team's second point by knocking off Caitlin Coelho and Celesta Smith in the No. 1 flight, 8-3. The No. 2 tandem of junior Olivia Amato (Hartford, Conn./Cheshire) and freshman Naia Bengoa (Caracas, Venezeula/San Igancio de Loyola) completed the sweep with an 8-4 win over Chloe Trave and Margot Tovia.

Bennicelli opened singles play with a 6-0, 6-0 win in the No. 6 match against Johnson. Freshman Anna Slomowitz (Glen Mills, Pa./Garnet Valley) clinched the match as she won her No. 5 match over Gillen, 6-0, 6-0.

Espinosa was a 6-1, 6-4 winner over Coelho in No. 1 singles, 6-1, 6-4. In the No. 2 singles flight, Bengoa defeated Smith, 6-4, 6-1.

Philadelphia travels to West Chester for a non-conference match on Thursday, Oct. 3 at 4 p.m.