The Binghamton women’s tennis team continued its winning streak Saturday at home, simultaneously handing Colgate its first loss and improving to 4-0 in dual matches ‘ good enough for the Bearcats’ best start since joining Division I.

The Bearcats had lost to Colgate in their previous two attempts.

‘Seton Hall [which the Bearcats defeated the previous Saturday] and Colgate are great schools,’ said head coach Mike Stevens. ‘It feels great to get wins over quality programs. But we need to keep our focus on the road ahead.’

Binghamton snatched all three doubles matches and secured the victory by taking four of the six singles matches. The Bearcats’ doubles teams have proved to be an integral part of the team’s early success; they are 11-1 in dual events this season.

‘In any college match, winning the doubles point can give a lot of momentum. It has a major effect on the match,’ Stevens said. ‘If your team’s doubles lose, you need to win four out of the six singles. So it’s great that they’ve started so well.’

Senior Zeynep Altinay won her school-record 77th career singles match, routing Jackie Couture 6-0, 6-2. She also teamed up with freshman Erica Rosenblum and defeated the Colgate doubles tandem of Cameron Thaney and Samantha Incacker 8-4 at second doubles.

Senior Lya Kushnirovich ripped Lauren Levy at third singles, winning 6-0, 6-2. It was Kushnirovich’s 75th career singles win, as she continues to trail Altinay by two wins for the all-time wins record. Stevens stressed that the record is not a priority for either player.

‘They’re not really thinking about the record,’ Stevens said. ‘They are trying to work hard for the team; the goals of the team are the priority.’

Freshman Danyelle Shapiro continued to play impressively, defeating Lindsay Grossman 6-0, 6-4 at fifth singles. Her singles record this season now stands at 13-1.

The team’s record is a good indicator of things to come, but Coach Stevens feels his team can still improve.

‘It’s great to start off with four wins, but we just try to get better each practice; we still have a long way to go. There are always areas to work on,’ he said.

The Bearcats next face the New Jersey Institute of Technology (5-2), Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. at the Events Center.