LEXINGTON, Va. — Sweet Briar's top doubles pair of sophomores Allison Wandling and Ruth de Souza helped make history, as Sweet Briar fell 5-1 to finish runner-up to Washington and Lee in the 2021 ODAC Women's Tennis Championship at the Washington and Lee Upper Courts on Sunday.
The No. 18 Generals, ranked No. 5 in the latest NCAA Atlantic South team rankings, entered Sunday having won 39-straight ODAC Women's Tennis Tournament matches by shutout. Sweet Briar snapped the 13-year streak on Sunday when de Souza (Marilia, Brazil) and Wandling (Mechanicsville, Va.) coasted to an 8-2 victory over Taylor Garcia and Margaret Carlton.
Wandling and de Souza entered Sunday ranked No. 5 in the latest NCAA Division III Atlantic South regional rankings, while Carlton and Garcia were ranked No. 5. Wandling and de Souza previously beat Carlton and Garcia 8-5 in late March. The victory moved raised the pair's record on the season to 21-1 and moved de Souza to No. 2 (38) all-time on the career doubles victories list at Sweet Briar and Wandling to No. 6 (31). Sweet Briar's No. 1 pair, also moved up in the single-season doubles victories chart with de Souza moving to No. 3 (22) and Wandling to No. 4 (21).
The final dual match of the season for Sweet Briar allowed for other records and career-best charts to settle as the Vixens finished with 15 overall team wins, the most in program history. The Vixens' 49 doubles victories are the most in school history, while the combined 137 wins (singles and doubles) are the most all-time for Sweet Briar.
As a team, Sweet Briar took a point from Washington and Lee in two straight matches for the first time since 1991, while the Vixens finished runner-up for the first time in the current tournament format and first time in any format since the 1991 season.
In singles action, Wandling wrapped up the year with 18 victories, the fourth most in a single season at Sweet Briar, and now sits seventh all-time in career singles wins with 31. With 17 singles wins this season, de Souza is No. 5 all-time and 12th in career victories with 25.
Sophomore Kate Kotany (Erd, Hungary) wrapped up the year No. 6 all-time with 16 single-season victories and No. 9 all-time with 29 career single-season victories. In doubles, Kotany sits No. 6 with 15 single-season wins and No. 9 with 25 career doubles wins.
Isabela Guilarte (Barquisimeto, Venezuela) finished her first year at Sweet Briar No. 9 in single-season singles wins and No. 24 in career singles wins with 15. In doubles action, Guilarte's 15 wins are tied for No. 6 in a single season and No. 23 in career doubles victories.
Senior Ruth Lechner (Baltimore, Md.) finished the year tied for 17th all-tie with 10 single-season doubles victories. along with junior partner Alexia Alfaro (Laredo, Texas). Individually, Alfaro finished the year 17th in single-season singles wins with 12 on the season.
