SAINT PETER, Minn. -- The top-ranked Washington and Lee women's tennis team tied its program record for wins in a season (28-0) and advanced to the NCAA Division III Championship match for the fourth-straight season with a 5-1 victory over Denison in the NCAA semifinals on Wednesday afternoon in Saint Peter, Minn.

The Generals took a 2-1 lead following the doubles competition. The duo of junior Katie Tabb (Minneapolis, Minn./Edina) and sophomore Lauren Caire (Nashville, Tenn./Harpeth Hall) won at No. 1 doubles, 8-4, while senior Leah Weston (Colorado Springs, Colo./Air Academy) and freshman Catherine Reed (St. Louis, Mo./ MICDS) teamed up to win at No. 2 doubles, 8-6. In singles, Weston downed Erin Gorsich, 6-1, 6-2, at No. 3 and junior Meg Spalitta (New Orleans, La./Academy of the Sacred Heart) topped Kendra Murray, 6-0, 6-4, at No. 6 to give the Generals a 4-1 lead. Senior Kelly Will (Holly Springs, N.C./Cary Academy) then provided W&L with the deciding point, topping Kristin Cobb, 6-3, 6-3, at No. 2 singles.

The 2007 National Champions will take on No. 3 Williams in the title match on Thursday at 1:00 pm CST. The Generals defeated the Ephs, 5-4, during the regular season.

#1 Washington & Lee University 5, #5 Denison 1
May 14, 2008 at St. Peter, Minn.

 

Singles competition

1. Katie Tabb (W&L) vs. Meghan Damico (DENW) 3-6, 2-5, unfinished

2. Kelly Will (W&L) def. Kristin Cobb (DENW) 6-3, 6-3

3. Lauren Caire (W&L) vs. Marta Drane (DENW) 6-3, 4-2, unfinished

4. Leah Weston (W&L) def. Erin Gorsich (DENW) 6-1, 6-2

5. Rebecca Timmis (W&L) vs. Kara Zdanowski (DENW) 5-7, 0-4, unfinished

6. Meg Spalitta (W&L) def. Kendra Murray (DENW) 6-0, 6-4

 

Doubles competition

1. Lauren Caire/Katie Tabb (W&L) def. Marta Drane/Kristin Cobb (DENW) 8-4

2. Catherine Reed/Leah Weston (W&L) def. Meghan Damico/Kendra Murray (DENW) 8-6

3. Kara Zdanowski/Erin Gorsich (DENW) def. Virginia Dickinson/Kelly Will (W&L) 8-2

 

Match Notes

Denison 20-4; National ranking #5

Washington & Lee University 28-0; National ranking #1

Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (4,6,2)

Washington and Lee advances to the NCAA Championship Match