CHATTANOOGA, TENN. — The dream doubles season of rising juniors Allison Wandling and Ruth de Souza came to a close on Friday in the opening round of the NCAA Division III Women's Tennis Doubles Championship at the Champions Tennis Club, as the duo dropped a two-set match to Nicole Snezhko and Jannah El Nemr of St. Thomas (Minn.).

The Sweet Briar duo finished up the 2021 season 21-2 overall while making the first appearance at the NCAA Division III Women's Tennis Doubles Championship by a Sweet Briar doubles squad since Traci Allen and Hilary Larson qualified in 1990.

Wandling (Mechanicsville, Va.) and de Souza (Marilia, Brazil) matched up with Snezhko and El Nemr at the outdoor courts of the Champions Tennis Club, exchanging games early before rains forced tournament participants to find shelter. The Vixen duo led 4-3 in the opening set, before moving roughly six miles to an indoor tennis facility at the Baylor School.

A late charge in the opening set saw the Tommies' pair escape the first set with a 7-5 victory, before earning a 6-3 win in the second set to advance to day two and the quarterfinals.

Wandling and de Souza closed out the 2021 season 9-0 in conference play before being named First Team All-Old Dominion Athletic Conference at No. 1 doubles. The Sweet Briar pair finish the season third and fourth all-time at Sweet Briar in single-season doubles victories with de Souza at No. 3 with 22 and Wandling No. 4 with 21.

Overall, de Souza is second all-time at Sweet Briar with 38 career doubles victories, while Wandling is sixth with 31.