LYNDON CENTER, Vt. — The Lyndon women's tennis team secured a berth in the upcoming North Eastern Athletic Conference East Division playoffs with a slim 5-4 win over arch-rival Castleton State at the Dudley Bell Tennis Center.

The Hornet duo of Kayla Flynn and Maria Parr staked the hosts to a 1-0 lead after first doubles with an 8-1 victory over Olga McIntyre and Erica Bilodeau. The Spartans took the second flight doubles match as Chelsea Crehan and Sara Novenstern downed Olivia Bernard and Alexandria Maynard 8-1.

Lyndon regained the lead in No. 3 doubles as senior Margaret George - who was honored for her four years of service to the Hornet program prior to the match - teamed with Kelsey Johnson to record an 8-2 win over Meghan Susslin and Felicia West.

Lyndon sealed the win by taking the first three singles matches of the afternoon.  Flynn topped McIntyre 6-1, 6-2 in No. 1 singles while Parr defeated West in straight sets 6-1, 6-1. In third flight singles, Johnson beat Bilodeau 6-2, 6-2 before Castleton reeled off three straight wins to make the match close.

Crehan grabbed the Spartans' second win in fourth flight singles, topping Maynard 6-1, 6-1, and Susslin walked off with a 6-1, 6-0 decision over Bernard in No. 5 singles. Novenstern closed out the match with a hard-fought 6-3, 4-6, 10-6 victory over George in sixth singles.

With the win, Lyndon improves to 4-8 overall and 4-5 in the NEAC East. The loss drops Castleton 7-7 overall and 6-2 in league play.