NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Taking on the seventh-ranked Generals of Washington and Lee University, the 17th-ranked Christopher Newport women's tennis team secured a historical win on Sunday afternoon when senior
Raine Weis claimed the clinching point in the final match of the day. The Captains (6-6) earned the first ever win over a top-ten opponent with a 4-3 victory against No. 7 Washington & Lee (5-4) in front of a delighted crowd at the Eyre Courts.
Weis dealt the decisive blow in a thrilling No. 1 singles match featuring two of the top individual players in the region. Taking on the Generals' junior All-American Lauren Long, Weis fired back-and-forth on the top line. With the team score deadlocked at three points apiece, the first set for Weis went into a tiebreaker before she secured the win, 7-6 (7-5). In the second set, she held serve on the home court and held off Long to clinch the historic win for CNU, 7-5.
Before the finale, the Captains earned the pivotal doubles point and also got a key win at No. 2 singles from
Kylie Schaefer.
Samantha Robertson also earned a win by retirement at No. 5 when the Generals' player was unable to continue due to injury. With the three singles points paired with the doubles win, the Captains captured the second win in program history against Washington and Lee.
In doubles, Weis paired with Schaefer for a 7-6 (7-4) win against Long and partner Grace Lorenz. At No. 2, another lengthy battle ensued between
Kendal Chang and
Samantha Robertson against Annie Jennings and Haley Stoltz. It proved to be an essential win for the Captains in extra time as the CNU underclassmen secured a 7-6 (8-6) win to edge out the Generals for the doubles point.
In singles, Schaefer earned a win over a nationally-ranked opponent when she dropped No. 30 Allie Murrell at No. 2 singles. The match extended to a third set but Schaefer came out victorious in the end. The sophomore earned a 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 win.
Weis returned to the top line after a two-match absence in which Schaefer went 1-1. Weis is now 8-1 this season at No. 1 singles and boasts a team-best 11-3 overall record in singles play. The win on Sunday was her 48th career victory and moves her past Brittany Stevens for sole possession of ninth all-time at CNU. She also sits just one doubles victory shy of second all-time with 59 career wins in pairs play.
Christopher Newport will next take the courts at home on Saturday, March 29 as CNU hosts No. 30 Mary Washington.
