The Virginia Wesleyan women's tennis team (8-7, 6-3 ODAC) defeated the WildCats of Randolph College 5-2 in a thrilling comeback win.
Randolph sped to a 6-1 win at #2 doubles over
Mikisha Thomas and
Zoe Vliegen; but
Lina Hackner and
Sarah Reich bounced back with a 6-2 win at #3.
Tuva Flink and
Jette Hafermann held a 3-2 lead on the top court, but struggled to close, falling 6-3 to Lena Kersten and Lize Van Veen to give Randolph the doubles point.
Tuva Flink fell short 6-1, 6-2 at the top of the singles lineup to Lena Kersten, the 11th ranked player in the ITA Atlantic South Region. Next to finish was
Jette Hafermann who secured a straightforward 6-3, 6-3 victory over Emma Bauer at the fourth spot to put the Marlins on the scoreboard.
Zoe Vliegen won the first set over Fleur Gaalman by a score of 6-4, but came up short 6-1 in the second set; Vliegen regained her momentum in the third set, winning it 6-3 for the first three-set victory of her Virginia Wesleyan career. Vliegen's win tied the match overall at 2-2.
Sarah Reich took care of business in the fifth singles spot, cruising past Maddie Mills 6-3, 6-0 to put VWU ahead 3-2 overall.
At #3 singles,
Lina Hackner won the first set 6-4, but lost the second 6-3. Hackner outlasted her opponent in the third with a convincing 6-0 finish to clinch the match for the Marlins. This match marks Hackner's first collegiate three-set victory.
Last on court was
Mikisha Thomas, who battled against Sabrina Dickerson at #6 and came out on top 6-4, 6-4.
The Marlins are set to travel to the University of Mary Washington on Friday, April 25 with start time set at 3:00 p.m.
