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The Wilkes University women's tennis team made history as it defeated SUNY Geneseo 5-3 in the opening round of the NCAA Championship, marking the first victory in school history at the national event.

Not only did the Lady Colonels down the Knights, they did it in come-from-behind fashion for their 16th win of the season. SUNY Geneseo took the momentum early by winning two-of-three doubles matches, but Wilkes battled back to win four of the deciding five singles contests.

In doubles play, Katrina Lynn and Alexis Donner (Belmar, NJ/Wall) fell to Lauren Johnson and Melissa Baker 8-2 at the No. 2 position before Xiaoqiao Zhang (Zhengzhou City, China/Warren Hills (N.J.)) and Michelle Knight (Roaming Shores, OH/Trinity) tied the match at one with an 8-4 victory over Sarah Shields and Kaite Gayvert at the No. 3 spot. Geneseo's Julia Passik and Monica Veith gave the Knights a 2-1 lead heading into singles play with an 8-6 win over Melanie Nolt (Manheim, PA/Manheim Central) and Victoria Bybel (Lancaster/Lancaster Mennonite).

In singles play, Donner tied the match at two each at the No. 4 spot with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Anna Lehet before Lynn gave the Lady Colonels the lead for good with a 6-2 , 6-3 win at No. 2. Nolt extended Wilkes' lead at No. 1 with a come-from-behind 2-6, 6-2, 6-2 win over Veith, putting the Lady Colonels up 4-2.

SUNY Geneseo's Passik kept the match close at No. 3 with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Bybel to make the score 4-3 before Zhang clinched the match at No. 5 with a 6-0, 6-2 win over Gayvert.


The Lady Colonels will now face host Denison at 10 a.m. tomorrow. Denison is the top-ranked team in the region and currently ranked No. 5 nationally.