Southeastern Louisiana senior Audrey Chelini won in singles and doubles play to help the Lions open the 2012 portion of its schedule with a 4-3 win over Southern Miss in non-conference action Sunday afternoon at the USM Tennis Courts.

 Southeastern (1-0) won the doubles point and split three singles matches to open the spring with a non-conference victory. Southern Miss fell to 1-3 with the loss.

 “This was a team win and I’m extremely proud of how hard our team played today,” Southeastern head coach Jason Hayes said. “This match was important for us. We’ve been working hard and really needed to start the season with a win.”

 Southeastern got off to a 1-0 lead by taking a highly competitive doubles point. Southeastern took the early advantage, as sophomore Laura Verges and freshman Adriana Castillo got past the USM pair of Kate Lanier and Alex Bradley, 8-4.

 After Southern Miss evened things with a win at the No. 1 spot, things looked bleak as USM marched out to a 5-2 lead in the deciding match at No. 3. However, Chelini and freshman Marion Courbis rallied for a 9-7 win over Moorea Williams and Mackenzie Oskin to put Southeastern out in front.

 Doubles play was a struggle for the Lions in 2011 and spelled the difference in several key matches. With four new faces on the 2012 roster, Hayes expected Southeastern’s doubles efforts to improve. The Lion head coach was pleased with the resolve shown by his freshmen in their collegiate debuts.

 “[Our freshman] looked nervous and started scared,” Hayes commented. “But each one was playing with a veteran in doubles and once the match progressed, they calmed down and played great when it counted.”

 Southeastern pushed the lead to 2-0, as Alexus Coats retired down, 3-0, to Chelini at No. 1. Chelini was the lone Lion to win in both singles and doubles play on Sunday.

 Playing in her first match in the green and gold, freshman Morgane Charpenne pushed the Southeastern lead to 3-0 with a dominant 6-0, 6-1 win over Frances Askew at No. 5.

 USM cut the lead to 3-1 with a win at No. 3, but that was as close as it would get. Senior Morgane Dadot clinched the match for the Lady Lions with a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Oskin at No. 4. Southern Miss rallied for wins at the No. 2 and No. 6 spots, but by then the match was decided.

 The Lions will be back in action on Wednesday, traveling to Southern for a 1 p.m. match in Baton Rouge.