ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. -- Making the program's first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division III Women's Tennis Team Championships, the 18th-ranked Christopher Newport women's tennis battled against the 16th-ranked Trinity University (Texas) Tigers before falling in a 5-1 final on Saturday afternoon. Veteran doubles duo Tessa Trate and Raine Weis captured the lone point for CNU in the postseason setback as Christopher Newport closes the 2023-24 dual slate with a 13-6 overall record. 

Having put together the most successful single season in CNU women's tennis history, the Captains earned a first-round bye in the NCAA Championships and advanced directly to the second round on Saturday. There, they were pitted against one of the nation's top teams in the Tigers, who came in ranked 16th in the nation. 

In doubles play, the Captains momentarily snagged the lead against Trinity in a marquee win for Trate and Weis at No. 1 doubles. Taking on the 16th-ranked pairing in the nation, Olivia Kim and Ruth Hill, the CNU tandem pulled away and coasted to an 8-3 win. The win marked the 16th victory at No. 1 doubles this season for the junior and senior combo, tying with Amy Lawrence and Stephanie Seward for the fourth most No. 1 wins in a single season. 

Earning their 19th win overall in doubles this season, they closed within two wins of the all-time record at Christopher Newport set by Stephanie Leblang and Linsey Pantele with 21 wins in 2007. While the season ends for the rest of the CNU squad, Trate and Weis will continue their run at the NCAA Division III Individual Championships later this month with their second qualifying berth into the doubles bracket. 

After the early win for CNU, Trinity rebounded to take the other two doubles matches by scores of 8-3 and 8-2, respectively. In singles play, the Tigers needed three wins to clinch and earned the wins with victories at Nos. 1, 2, and 5. 

At No. 5, Rosabella Andrade was matched well against CNU senior Kiersten Chang, who did her best to stave off elimination by pressing Andrade to a seventh game in the second set but ultimately fell by a final score of 6-3, 7-5. At No. 1, Weis also pushed her opponent to the limit in the first set, forcing a tiebreaker against nationally-ranked Ruth Hill before falling 7-6, 6-2. Finally, Trate won six games against Ellie Hughes at No. 2 before the Tigers celebrated the win with a 6-2, 6-4 victory. 

In the unfinished singles matches, the Captains were more than competitive as all three CNU players won a set in those bouts. At No. 3, Mia Linam was ahead in the third set when the match was called after pulling ahead of Trinity Levy by a score of 6-1, 4-6, 2-1; at No. 4, Samantha Robertson nearly secured the second team point of the afternoon for CNU with a 6-4, 6-6 score when the match concluded; and, at No. 6, Kylie Schaefer picked up a win in the first set and was back-and-forth with Cate Cushing as her match was 6-4, 2-6, 3-3 at the end of the round. 

Trate and Weis will represent Christopher Newport at the individual championships starting on May 20. In addition to the pair competing in the doubles draw, Weis also secured a berth into the national singles championship. The Captains will travel to St. Louis, Mo. to compete at the Dwight Davis Tennis Center at WashU.