Taylor Beats ITA Regional Champ, Caps Stellar Vixen Showing

ASHLAND, Va. --- Vixen Tennis wrapped up its 2011 campaign at the ODAC Fall Tournament hosted by Randolph-Macon College on October 8 and 9. For the second consecutive year, Ariel Taylor ('14/Springfield, Va.) who is ranked #31 in the nation, claimed victory at the #1 Singles spot. Taylor garnered the tournament title after posting a comeback win over the ITA Southeast Regional champion Sonja Meighan ('15/McLean, Va.) of Washington and Lee. 

Taylor’s Flight 1 singles victory is a critical win for Taylor and the Vixen Tennis program.  Two weeks prior in the ITA Southeast Regional Tournament, Taylor suffered an opening round loss – a tightly contested match (6-4, 6-4) with John Hopkins University first-year Stephanie Rettig (New York, N.Y.).  Taylor regrouped and won all remaining singles matches in the ITA Regional. 

“We have such a strong region in Division III women’s tennis.  The depth of talent is impressive.  You cannot take anyone for granted,” noted Sweet Briar College Head Tennis Coach Teresa Boylan.  “In the main draw at ITAs, you know you will have a tough opponent in every round.  You compete against players you may not have seen in prior matches.  So, for Taylor to win against such a high caliber opponent as an ITA Regional champ, a first-year player for a nationally known conference foe, is a huge step for Taylor and our program.” 

Boylan continued, “I am pleased with the performance of all our players across the line up.  We have progressed each of my four years here at SBC and our players are hungry to get to the next level of tennis: regional and national rankings.” 

Over the two-day tournament, four Vixens reached singles flight finals and three Sweet Briar College doubles teams earned spots in their respective finals.  Full results for SBC are listed below.

SINGLES

Flight 1

(2) #31 Taylor def. Wingate (Emory and Henry College), 6-0, 6-0

(2) #31 Taylor def. Montoya (Hollins), 6-4, 3-2 ret.

(2) #31 Taylor def. (1) Meighan (Washington and Lee), 2-6, 6-4, 6-2

Flight 2

(2) Burke def. Kolster (Randolph), 6-2, 6-0

(2) Burke def. Montoya (Hollins), 6-0, 6-3

(1) Kirkland (Washington and Lee) def. (2) Burke, 6-2, 6-2

Flight 3

(2) Maldonado def. Parks (Randolph-Macon College), 6-0, 6-0

Coffee (Hollins) def. (2) Maldonado, 6-1, 6-1

Flight 4

(4) Bronner def. Sledd (Randolph-Macon College), 6-0, 6-0

Woodson (Hollins) def. (4) Bronner, 7-5, 6-4

Flight 5

(3) Merritt-Cuneo def. Camper (Randolph), 6-0, 6-1

(3) Merritt-Cuneo def. Webb (Roanoke), 6-4, 6-3

(1) Francis (Washington and Lee) def. Merritt-Cuneo, 6-1, 6-1

Flight 6

Raifsnider def. Briggs (Emory and Henry College), 6-0, 6-0

Vella (Washington and Lee) def. Raifsnider, 6-0, 6-1

Flight 7

Manning def. Braddock (Hollins), 6-1, 6-0

Manning def. Hodges (Hollins), 6-4, 6-0

Siziba (Hollins) def. Manning, 7-5, 6-2

DOUBLES

Flight 1

(3) Taylor/Burke def. Wingate/Vishnev (Emory and Henry College), 8-2

(3) Taylor/Burke def. Montoya/Montoya (Hollins), Def

(1) Meighan/Kirkland (Washington and Lee) def. (3) Taylor/Burke, 8-4

Flight 2

(2) Moldanado/Bronner def. Sutton/Kleimeier (Guilford), 8-4

(2) Moldanado/Bronner def. Antoszyk/Goodes (Roanoke), 8-4

(1) Buell/Hupalo (Washington and Lee) def. (2) Moldanado/Bronner, 8-2

Flight 3

Manter/Raifsnider def. Jone/Rhodes (Randolph-Macon College), 8-1
Woodson/Kakadelis (Hollins) def. Manter/Raifsnider, 8-2

Flight 4

Manning/Byrd def. Braddock/Evans (Hollins), 8-1

Manning/Byrd def. Kursh/Hood (Hollins), 8-0

Manning/Byrd def. Hoerr/Siziba (Hollins), 8-6