The Austin girls tennis team opened its season with a 6-1 win over United South Central Tuesday at Paulson Courts.

Austin swept the singles matches with Kathryn Gavin getting a 6-1, 6-4 win over Taylor Allis in No. 2 singles. Allis played Gavin point-for-point in the second set and was within 5-4 before Gavin closed the door with the last point.

“She’s one of the players who’ll hit back every ball and sometimes with a lob,” Gavin, a senior, said. “I’m more of a power game player this year, so it was a little frustrating at first but I got used to it and made her run a little and waited for her errors to occur.”

Gavin was also making the adjustment to singles for the first time as she played on Austin’s No. 1 doubles team last season.

“It’s way different,” she said. “In doubles I had to focus on my volleys and now it’s more ground serves and consistency. Personally I like it and I think it’s a good change for me.”

The closest matches of the day came in doubles as Austin’s No. 1 team of Laura Astrup and Sophie Hebrink fell to Molly Yokiel and Kellie Robbins in three sets (6-3, 1-6, 6-3) and the Packers No. 2 doubles team of Kira Potach and Sam Brucker fought off an early 1-0 deficit in the third set to beat Cami Christian and Haleigh Korn (4-6, 6-4, 6-2).

“Our doubles groups are adjusting to new style of play,” Austin head coach Thomas Tauchnitz said. “We are playing Australian style doubles on the ad sides and the girls are picking it up very well. We are trying to get our girls more aggressive at the net and this should do the trick. All doubles played extremely well and three out of our six players played there first varsity matches today.”

Austin’s No. 3 doubles team of Mary Kate Barinka and Katlyn Orcutt cruised to a 6-2, 6-0 win over Megan Allis and Katie Lorenz.

“They dominated their opponents by crashing the net and continuing to apply pressure until their opponents folded,” Tauchnitz said.

At No. 4 singles, Austin’s Megan Zastoupil got her first varsity win in her first ever match as she finished off Robin Staloch 6-2, 6-4.

Gavin said beating USC was a great way to start the season.

“It’s always nice to start out with USC,” she said. “They’re always good.”

Austin will play at Lakeville in a round robin tournament Wednesdy at 9 a.m.

Singles

No. 1 Hannah Middlebrook (A) def.  Carolyn Schmitz (USC) 6-2, 6-2

No. 2 Kathryn Gavin (A) def. Taylor Allis (USC) 6-1, 6-4

No. 3 Nina Carney (A) def. Ali Ramsley (USC) 6-2, 2-6, 6-1

No. 4 Megan Zastoupil (A) def. Robin Staloch (USC) 6-2, 6-4

Doubles

No. 1 Molly Yokiel/Kellie Robbins (USC) def. Laura Astrup/Sophie Hebrink (A) 6-3, 1-6, 6-3

No. 2 Kira Potach/Sam Brucker (A) def. Cami Christian/Haleigh Korn (USC) 4-6, 6-4, 6-2

No. 3 Mary Kate Barinka/Katlyn Orcutt (A) def. Megan Allis/Katie Lorenz (USC) 6-2, 6-0