VIRGINIA BEACH -- Virginia Wesleyan College's tennis teams closed out the home portion of the 2010-11 schedule with a pair of victories over the visiting Hornets of Lynchburg College.
Both Marlins squads won by 7-2 counts at Penzold Courts, where the teams took time to honor the lone senior in the program, Meredith Willett (Rumney, N.H./Plymouth) (left). A four-year competitor for the Marlins, Willett came through with two wins on the day, teaming with rookie Saida Bennou (Washington, D.C./St. Johns)to win 8-1 at No. 1 doubles and then bouncing LC's Clare Wallendjack (Kensington, Md./Walter Johnson) 6-0, 6-1 at No. 2 singles.
The victories improved Willett's career totals to 37 in doubles and 43 in singles, the latter the seventh highest total in VWC history. She is currently 9-7 in singles, including 8-5 at No. 2 singles.
Willett was part of a sweep of one through five flights in singles, highlighted by an intense win by rookie Katelynn Duncan (Lynchburg, Va./Holy Cross) at No. 4. She fell 6-4 to Jeannine Malay (Liverpool, N.Y./Liverpool) in the first set, but came back strong to take the second set 6-2. In the tie breaker Duncan outlasted Malay for a hard-fought 12-10 win.
On the men's side, rookie Ryan Sadinski (Chesapeake, Va./Hickory)followed suit, also playing at the No. 4 position. LC senior Brian Nelson (Charlotte, N.C./Home schooled) posted a 7-5 win in the opener, but Sadinski recovered to win the second set 6-4. In another intense tie-breaker, Sadinski emerged the winner with a 10-6 decision.
Sadinski's victory was part of a two through six singles sweep by the Marlins, which included a 6-0, 6-0 victory by sophomore Donnie Greathouse (Yorktown, Va./Grafton), his first of the season in singles.
Additional highlights for the Marlins included a 6-0, 6-1 win by rookie Cay Gee (Parkton, Md./Hereford) at No. 3 singles, as she improved to a team-best 9-2 overall, 8-2 at the flight, and 6-1 against ODAC competition.
Virginia Wesleyan's teams will compete again on Wednesday, Apr. 6, taking a short ride into Norfolk to face the Spartans of Division I Norfolk State University at 3 p.m. The Marlins close out the regular season on Sunday, Apr. 10, playing at 1 p.m. in Fayetteville, N.C. against Methodist University.
--AMDG
