For Immediate Release – 4/15/16 - #308
WildCats Close out Undefeated Nonconference Slate with 5-4 Win

LYNCHBURG, VA – The Randolph College women's tennis team finished up its nonconference schedule on Friday with a 5-4 victory over Southern Virginia University.  The win also gave the 'Cats a perfect record in nonconference matches this year.  The match took place in perfect conditions, after having been rescheduled from late February.

The 'Cats earned a nice lead coming out of doubles play.  Emmalyn Snead and Samantha Dickerson partnered at number two, and were victorious with relative ease.  The match ended 8-2.  Dina Velazco and Jenna Sweet were the tandem at number one.  It took a little bit longer, but the duo pulled out the match 8-2 as well.  Shelby Lutz and Alex Wieczorek were the final pair and played well but fell to their opponents.

The 2-1 lead put the 'Cats in good position going into singles.  Dickerson was the first player to finish, taking a big win at number four.  She gave up only three total games on the way to victory.  Sweet followed Dickerson with an impressive win at number two.  She gave up only two games, taking her match 6-1, 6-1, putting the WildCats up 4-1.

Snead played very well in her first set at number three.  She dominated on the way to a 6-0 win.  However, she could not keep the momentum going, and fell in three.  Wieczorek had a similar fate in her match at number five.  She played tough, taking six games, but dropped the match in two sets, as the Knights closed the gap.

Velazco's match was the next to finish at number one.  In the first set, she fell in close battle, taking four games away from her opponent.  She came back with a vengeance in the second, sweeping the victory and setting up a third set super-tiebreak to decide the victor.  Velazco won, 10-4, with ease.

Lutz' match at number six was the last to finish.  Lutz battled the entire time and played well.  She dropped the first in a tiebreak, before falling late in the second set.  However, Velazco's win had already given Randolph the victory.

Randolph (9-6, 1-6) returns to Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) action on Saturday.  The WildCats host Shenandoah University (7-4, 2-4) in an important match. Doubles play will begin at 1 p.m.

###