Virginia Beach, Va. - The Virginia Wesleyan University women's tennis team defeated Bridgewater College 7-2 today at the Everett Tennis Center.  

In doubles, freshmen Audrey Bally (Nice, France) and Makayla Velic (Jacksonville, FL) got the Marlins on the scoreboard first with an 8-3 win at #1 doubles.  The Eagles then claimed the #2 spot 8-5. With the match knotted at 1-1 the Marlin's #3 team of Kristina Sabelstrom (Colorado Springs, CO) and Taylor Witherspoon (Fairfax, VA) outlasted Bridgewater's Rachel Zarin and Ashley Price 9-8 (2) giving the Marlins a 2-1 edge heading into singles.

In singles, the Eagles drew first blood by taking #2 singles 6-3, 6-3; however, the momentum shift was short lived as VWU went on to claim the remaining 5 matches leading to a 7-2 team win.  At #1, Makayla Velic knocked off Jamiah Lewis 6-4, 6-7, 6-1. At #3, Katie Staman (Lancaster, PA) defeated Nicole Shifflett 7-5, 4-6, 6-3. At #4, freshman Courtney Simmons (Reevsville, SC) took down Stephanie Barton 7-5, 6-2.  Giving the Marlins their 6th and 7th points of the day were senior Kellen Phillips (Alexandria, VA) and Kristina Sabelstrom with 6-1, 6-2 & 3-6, 6-1, 10-4 decisions respectively.

With the win the Marlins improve to 10-8 on the season and 5-5 in ODAC play.  The Eagles fall to 10-7 and 6-4 in the ODAC. Today marked the end of the regular season for VWU women's tennis and the team will now wait to see where they will be seeded in the upcoming ODAC Conference Tournament.  Quarter finals will be held at the higher seed on Tuesday May 1st with the semifinals and finals to be held at Virginia Wesleyan University May 5th and 6h.