Johnston scores fifth point, gives Vixens ODAC win

NORFOLK, Va.  ---- Sweet Briar College picked up its first spring 2014 conference win over host Virginia Wesleyan College on Sunday afternoon.  SBC sophomore Megan Johnston (Powhatan, Va./Powhatan) sealed the deal with the deciding win on court #6.  

Sweet Briar fell behind 3-0 in the doubles matches, but mounted a furious comeback on the singles side to capture the 5-4 victory.  With the win, the team improves to 2-1 overall and 1-1 in Old Dominion Athletic Conference play.

Caitlin Delmas (Asheville, N.C./K-12 International) and Glory Bowman (Roanoke, Va./Patrick Henry) narrowly lost the doubles battle for court #1.  The top Vixen duo took the match the distance but eventually 9-8 (8-6) to VWC's Mia Proctor (Arnold, Md. / Broadneck) and Hannah Parent (Port Tobacco, Md. / Indian Head-Henry E. Lackey).  

Delmas handily beat Proctor on court #1 (6-1, 6-1) to give SBC its first point on the afternoon (3-1). Court #3 finished next with VWC's Marisa Cifuentes (Virginia Beach, Va./Bayside) taking a 6-0, 6-1 win over Allie Raifsnider (Concord, N.C./Jay M. Robinson) to push the Marlin lead 4-1.

Ashley Fletcher contributed the next SBC point with a 6-4, 7-5 win on court #5.  Bowman added the third SBC point with a court #2 win over Hannah Parent (Port Tobacco, Md./Indian Head-Henry E. Lackey), and SBC first-year Gina Rutledge (Germanton, N.C./South Stokes) knotted up the score at four all with a 6-1, 7-5 win over the Marlin's Hannah Rice (Glen Allen/J.R. Tucker).

With the ODAC victory up for grabs SBC sophomore Megan Johnston recovered from a first set loss to take the court #6 match over Sydney Charity (Hampton, Va./Hampton) 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 and give SBC the fifth and deciding point.  Sweet Briar outlasted Virginia Wesleyan for the 5-4 conference victory.

Vixen Tennis Head Coach Teresa Boylan commented on the win, that this was "very much a total team win and everyone contributed. We truly regrouped between doubles and singles.  This was a terrific breakthrough for us as a team and this win will gives us momentum as conference play unfolds."

The Vixens next face Randolph-Macon College at home on Thursday, March 6.  The ODAC match is set for a 4 p.m. start.  

Sweet Briar College vs Va Wesleyan (Mar 03, 2014)

Sweet Briar College 5, Va Wesleyan 4
Mar 03, 2014 at Virginia Wesleyan College 

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