NEWPORT NEWS -- Kim Morrissett won in doubles and singles as Christopher Newport finished a 17-2 women's tennis regular season in style Sunday afternoon.

The Captains quickly clinched the team victory in singles and emerged with a quality 5-4 non-conference triumph over Sweet Briar (13-4).

CNU, one of the youngest teams in the nation, has had one of its best seasons in history. Sunday, the Captains started an all-freshman singles lineup, along with sophomore Lauren Kelly at No. 2 doubles.

Morrissett and Melisande Downs put CNU ahead 1-0 with an 8-4 victory at No. 3 doubles.

Marion Gloor and Morgan Huff then overcame a 5-1 deficit for an 8-6 triumph at No. 1 doubles -- a result that eventually loomed large. The players they defeated, Virginia Edahl and Moriah Burke, went on to post singles victories.

CNU nearly swept the doubles matches, but the Vixens' Julia Green and Sarah Mantes overcame Kelly and Erin Spinks 9-8 (7-1) at No. 2.

Leading 2-1 entering singles, it took the Captains less than hour to ensure the triumph. Spinks rolled 6-0, 6-0 at No. 4, Morrissett was leading 6-1, 2-1 at No. 3 when her opponent retired with an injury, and Dani Cribb completed a 6-1, 6-0 triumph at No. 5 to give CNU an insurmountable 5-1 lead.

The Vixens, who are from the Lynchburg area and are 7-2 in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference, annexed wins at Nos. 1 and 2 soon after that, leaving the team score at 5-3 -- and leaving Green and Downs alone to share the spotlight of a bright afternoon sun at No. 6, where they were early in the second set.

After dropping the first set 6-1, Downs took the second set 6-4 to force a match tiebreaker. After several memorable exchanges, each player had held and saved match point.

Finally, leading 11-10, Green gambled and rocketed a second serve off the service line to force a return error and win the tiebreaker.

CNU next will compete in the USA South Athletic Conference tournament at the Burlington (N.C.) Tennis Center.

The third-seeded Captains will play on Friday morning at 9 against sixth-seeded Shenandoah. If CNU wins, it likely will gain a chance to avenge a regular-season defeat in a 10 a.m. Saturday semifinal against No. 2 Meredith, the defending champion.

CNU 5, SWEET BRIAR 4

Doubles
1. Marion Gloor-Morgan Huff (CNU) d. Moriah Burke-Virginia Edahl 6-2, 6-0.
2. Julia Green-Sarah Mantes (SBC) d. Lauren Kelly-Erin Spinks 9-8 (7-1).
3. Melisande Downs-Kim Morrissett (CNU) d. Leslie Polaska-Anne Roach 8-4.

Singles
1. Edahl (SBC) d. Huff 6-2, 6-0.
2. Burke (SBC) d. Gloor 6-1, 6-0.
3. Morrissett (CNU) d. Krista Maldonado 6-1, 2-1, retired-injury.
4. Spinks (CNU) d. Glory Bowman 6-0, 6-0.
5. Dani Cribb (CNU) d. Roach 6-1, 6-0.
6. Green (SBC) d. Downs 6-1, 4-6, 1-0 (12-10).

Records
Sweet Briar 13-4; CNU 17-2.