AMHERST, VA. – The fifth-seeded Guilford College women's tennis team (10-7, 6-5 ODAC) saw its 2026 campaign come to a close on Thursday afternoon, falling 4-1 to fourth-seeded University of Lynchburg (11-5, 7-4 ODAC) in the quarterfinals of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Tournament. Despite the outcome at the Sweet Briar College tennis courts, the Quakers celebrated a historic individual achievement and another step forward for the program.
In doubles play, Guilford's top duo of
Carolina Dirk (Port Aransas, TX) and
Ashley Belnap (Winston-Salem, N.C.) dominated their match, cruising to a 6-0 victory over Kayla Kosiorek and Isadora Lima. However, the Hornets responded by winning the remaining two flights to clinch the opening point.
In singles action, Dirk put the finishing touches on a legendary sophomore season. Dirk defeated Lima 6-2, 6-0 at the No. 1 position to secure Guilford's lone point of the match. The victory cements Dirk's perfect record, as she finishes the year 16-0 in singles play.
Belnap,
Chandler Sizemore (Sandy Ridge, N.C.),
McKenna Merritt (Dobson, N.C.),
LaNiya Ward (Pittsburgh, Pa.), and
Brooke Tsuei (Summerfield, N.C.) all put up determined efforts in their respective singles matches against the No. 4 Hornets.
While the loss ends Guilford's tournament run, the season remains a benchmark of consistency. This year marked the program's second consecutive trip to the ODAC playoffs, and the Quakers will look to build on this foundation as they head into the upcoming fall campaign.
#GoQuakes
