Lashley wins deciding match, Bishop women down Randolph

Rocky Mount, NC - NC Wesleyan freshman Brooke Lashley kicked off her collegiate tennis career in style on Saturday, winning a three-setter at #4 singles that proved to be the deciding match in the Bishops' season-opening win over Randolph College.  Lashley (pictured) was also an 8-4 winner at #2 doubles with teammate Ashley Ball.  Wesleyan is now 1-0 for the first time in the program's brief history.

The Bishops took an early 2-1 lead in the match with two wins in doubles play.  In addition to the Lashley/Ball win, Jenna Gollub and Kayla Miller were 8-1 winners at the top spot.

Gollub, a First Team All-Conference selection last season, picked up where she left off in 2006.  The talented senior breezed to a 6-0, 6-1 win over the Wildcat's Iliana Carrsquillo at #1 singles.  NCWC's Crystal Lashley was also a winner at #6 singles over Ashley Yount (6-2, 6-4), setting the stage for her younger sister's match-deciding win.

After dropping the first set 6-1 to Randolph's Sonia Rosen, Lashley battled back to take the second set 6-4.  She then breezed to a 6-0 win in the third.  The #4 singles match was the only three-set match of the day.

For Randolph, Elysin Lopez and Van Curren were 8-4 winners at #3 doubles over NCWC's Kaite Bright and Crystal Lashley.  Lopez was also a winner over Bright at #5 singles (6-2, 6-2), while Porsche Pugh and Danielle Simms earned the Wildcats' final points at #2 and #3 singles over Miller and Ball, respectively.

The Bishops will open up USA South play on Wednesday at Peace College.  Match time is slated for 3:30 p.m. in Raleigh.