Willet shines for Marlins in four-match road trip

VIRGINIA BEACH -- Virginia Wesleyan College's women's tennis team will head into a challenging four-match schedule starting on Wednesday, March. 9.

The Marlins will host the Captains of Christopher Newport University at 4 p.m. in a non-conference match on the Penzold Courts. CNU will enter the match with a 4-1 record, following a 5-4 loss to Illinois' Augustana College, while VWC will carry a 3-3 mark into the match, following a 5-4 loss at Guilford College.

Willett Senior Meredith Willett (Rumney, N.H./Plymouth Regional) (left) took over the responsibilities of the No. 1 position against the host Quakers, following an injury that sideline rookie Saida Bennou (Washington, D.C./St. Johns College). Willett responded impressively, rolling to a 6-2, 6-2 win over Mackey Wesner (Naples, Fla./Naples) in singles and teaming with rookie Cay Gee (Parkton, Md./Hereford)to bounce Wesney and Natalie Sutton (Chapel Hill, N.C./Chapel Hill) 8-3 at No. 1 doubles.

Gee also emerged as a winner in singles, with a big 6-0, 6-2 win over Sutton. Sophomore Stephanie Bittner (Westminster, Md./Francis Scott Key)gave VWC a third singles win, outlasting the Quakers' Anne Mogavero (Evansville, Ind./Reitz Memorial), 6-3, 3-6, 10-7.

Willett was a consistent winner for the Marlins during a four-match swing, that included three on the Washington & Lee University courts. VWC rolled to 5-0 wins over Emory & Henry College and Randolph-Macon College, but dropped a 5-0 decision to No. 10 ranked Washington & Lee.

Willett came through in singles against Emory & Henry, defeating senior Kandyce Baker (Nelson County, Va./Nelson County) 6-2, 6-0, and posting a 6-3, 6-0 win over Randolph-Macon rookie Caty-Betz Holcomb (Lynchburg, Va./E.C. Glass). Willett partnered with Bennou in both matches for two impressive 8-1 wins at No. 1 doubles, taking down E&H's Allysa Wingate (Independence, Va./Grayson County) and Baker 8-1 and R-MC's Martha Vlahakis (Rockville, Md./Rockville) and Holcomb.

Gee finished as a three-time winner in doubles as she an teammates never allowed more than four points in a match. Gee partnered with rookie Katelynn Duncan (Lynchburg, Va./Holy Cross)to roll to an 8-2 win over E&H's Kaylee Gallant (Hampton, Va./Kecoughtan) and Victoria Suttles (Marion, N.C./McDowell), and combined skills with junior Gabrielle Sacco (Tuckerton, N.J./Pinelands)to top R-MC's Olayenisi Ogunshina (Columbia, Md./Wilde Lake) and Sarah Rainey (Prince George, Va./Appomattox Governors School) 8-4.

--AMDG--