CHATTANOOGA, TN. – Sticking out Chattanooga's scorching sun on Monday morning, No. 4 Wesleyan women's tennis swept No. 9 Washington & Lee University from the NCAA Tournament with a 4-0 finish in the quarterfinal to advance to the Final Four for just the fifth time in program history while led by freshman
Kendall Smith from the Champions Club Tennis Complex.
For the first time since 2021, the Cardinals did not allow a single point by an opponent in the NCAA quarterfinal round. The 2021 Elite 8 appearance was a 5-0 sweep of Washington & Lee in Chattanooga.
Clinching the always beneficial doubles point, the Cardinals (21-2 overall) broke to an early one-point lead over the Generals (22-3) as the morning fell underway. Smith and doubles partner
Mariia Kornilova '29 refused to let up at No. 3, finishing first with a 6-2 victory over Allie Murrell and Haley Stoltz.
Sarah Youngberg '26 and
Lara Afolayanka '29 were not far behind at No. 2, securing a 6-4 win over Greer Webb and Margarette Berdy after stealing the lead at 4-3.
Youngberg's performance at No. 4 singles dropped Murrell from contention, speeding to a 6-1 finish in set one before collecting a 6-3 set two as the first singles match to finish play.
Relayed to No. 1,
Agnes Guggenheim '29 anchored the lineup against Lauren Long and rose to a 3-0 lead in set one before Long was able to register a win. Long ran four in a row, gaining a lead on Guggenheim but it was shortly lived as Guggenheim tied the set at four and won two straight to flip. Set two saw Guggenheim hold her lead throughout the match despite Long's attempts to catch up as the match ended in a 6-4, 6-3 win for the Cardinals.
Sitting at No. 6, Smith bounced back from a brief lead held by Sarah Ladd in the opening minutes of set one. Smith was quick to steal the lead, holding through to a win before the pair battled through a tie at four in set two. Winning two games in a row, Smith clinched the fourth and final point of the match for the Cardinals with a 6-2, 6-4 final to advance.
While unfinished with Smith's win,
Natalia Leroy '28, Afolayanka, and Kornilova all led their matches at No. 2, No. 3, and No. 5.
The Cardinals await No. 1 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps in the NCAA Tournament semifinal on Tuesday, May 19, no earlier than 5 p.m. EST. The Athenas and the Cardinals previously met in the 2024 semifinals in St. Louis, MO.
