Virginia Beach, Va. - In a 4 hour and 40 minute marathon match, the Virginia Wesleyan University women's tennis team falls 5-4 to ODAC rival Lynchburg at the Everett Tennis Center on Friday afternoon.
The Marlins found themselves down 2-1 after doubles when Lynchburg claimed a pivotal 9-8 victory at #3 doubles. Marlin junior Kristina Sabelstrom (Colorado Springs, CO) and senior Taylor Witherspoon (Fairfax, VA) found themselves down 7-4 at #3 doubles before fighting back to even the match at 8-8 but dropped the tiebreak 7-5. However, the Marlins were able to get on the scoreboard with an 8-4 win at #2 doubles when junior Katie Staman (Lancaster, PA) and freshman Courtney Simmons (Reevesville, SC) defeated Lynchburg's Halle Lavieri and Sarah Wyly.
Heading into singles the Marlins would need to claim 4 of 6 singles matches to survive the meeting. Drawing first blood for Lynchburg was their #1 and 2017 ODAC Rookie of the Year Christina Harris who took down Marlin Freshman Makayla Velic (Jacksonville, FL) 6-0, 6-1. With the Hornets up 3-1 the Marlins began to gain traction by taking the first sets at #2, #3, #4 and #6 singles. At #5 singles senior Kellen Phillips (Alexandria, VA) dropped the first set to Caroline Guill 6-1 before climbing back in the 2nd set 5-2 when Guill was forced to retire due to injury. With the Marlins down 3-2 Sabelstrom locked down #6 singles 6-0, 7-5. Shortly thereafter the Hornets struck back by taking #4 singles 4-6, 6-1, 6-1. Knotting the match at 4-4 was junior Katie Staman where she recroverd from an ankle injury in the 2nd set and pulled out a clutch 6-3, 0-6, 6-3 win at #3 singles. With the match tied at 4-4 all focus shifted to #2 singles where the Marlin's freshman Audrey Bally (Nice, France) was up a set and 5-4 to Lynchburg's Halle Lavieri. Lavieri fought back to take the 2nd set in a tiebreaker. Heading into the 3rd, Bally jumped to a 2-1 lead before falling behind 5-2. Digging down deep, Bally finds a way to come back to take a 6-5 lead. After having a number of match points serving at 6-5 Lavieri found a way to survive the game pushing the set to a tiebreaker. In the tiebreaker Bally jumps out to a 4-1 lead before Lavieri climbs back and takes the breaker 7-4. "Audrey showed amazing courage today in her 3rd set. She stuck to her game plan and executed extremely well under intense pressure.", said head coach Marty Perry of Bally's singles performance.
With the loss the Marlins fall to 5-2 on the year while Lynchburg improves to 7-3. The Marlins will get a few hours rest before taking on Shenandoah tomorrow at 11 am at the Everett Tennis Center in another ODAC match-up.
