Click the video to the right to watch the final point in Leanne Smithers win.
LYNCHBURG, Va. - Bridgewater's Leanne Smithers rallied after losing the first set to win her match at No. 5 singles and that victory lifted the Eagles to a 5-4 team win over Randolph College in an ODAC tournament quarterfinal match Sunday afternoon.
The Eagles lost to Randolph 5-4 during the regular season, but turned the tables Sunday despite playing without Marla O'Bryan, the team's No. 2 singles player.
Bridgewater needed a strong effort in doubles play and the Eagles won all three matches to take an early lead.
The No. 3 doubles match was the first off the court as Bridgewater's Smithers and Haley Lloyd defeated Danielle Lewis and Tiandre Forde 8-4.
At No. 1 doubles, Maria Hawkins and Whitney Cash played together for the first time this season and took an 8-3 victory over Randolph's Dina Velazco and Jenna Sweet, giving the Eagles a 2-0 lead.
The No. 2 doubles match proved pivotal as the Eagles controlled play late to take the win. With the score tied at 6-6, Randolph's Heather Parra and Sarah Parker won the next game to move within one game of closing out the match against Bridgewater's Shannon Quinn and Ashley Price. The Eagles duo evened the match at 7-7, but fell behind again when the Cats held serve. The Eagles' Quinn then held serve to send the match to a tiebreaker. Bridgewater won the first four points in the breaker and went to win 7-3, giving the Eagles a 3-0 lead.
Needing just two wins in singles play to clinch the match, Hawkins took care of one victory at No. 1 when she defeated Velazco in straight sets 6-1, 6-0..
The WildCats, however reeled off straight set wins at No. 3 and No. 4 singles to close to within 4-2. Sweet defeated Price 6-1, 6-0 at No. 3 while her teammate Parra downed Cash 6-1, 6-4 at the No. 4 slot.
Randolph pulled even with close wins at No. 6 and No. 2 singles. Forde slipped past Lloyd 6-4, 6-4 to win at No. 6 and the WildCats pulled even at 4-4 when Parker outlasted Quinn 7-5, 6-4 to win at No. 2 singles.
The final match on the court, No. 5 singles between Randolph's Lewis and BC's Smithers, would determine the winner. Lewis rolled to a 6-1 victory in the first set, but Smithers rallied to even the match with a 6-4 win in the second set. Smithers controlled play in final set, winning 6-0 to send the Eagles to the ODAC semifinals.
The semifinals and championship matches will be played next Saturday and Sunday at Virginia Wesleyan College. In one Saturday semifinal, Bridgewater will play the No. 1 seed, Washington and Lee. W&L defeated Sweet Briar 5-0 in its quarterfinal match.
