St. Norbert Bounces Grinnell to Win MWC Tournament and Clinch NCAA Berth

From Asst. AD/Athletics Communications, April 27, 2017 | Women's Tennis
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

MADISON - St. Norbert College topped Grinnell College 5-3 in the championship match of the Midwest Conference Team Tournament at Nielsen Tennis Stadium to clinch its third NCAA Division III Tournament appearance.

The Green Knights (21-13), who beat Cornell College 5-1 in a semifinal match earlier in the day, will wait for the NCAA Tournament bracket to be announced Monday, May 8. Regional tournament play is scheduled to begin Friday, May 12.

St. Norbert opened the title match by taking a key 2-1 lead after doubles play. Katherine Ake and Stephanie Doerfert beat Lily Hamilton and Sydney Banach 8-4 at No. 3, while Anna Gosz and Ashley Randazzo tipped Anushka Joshi and Shanaz Daneshdoost 8-6 at No. 2 for the one-point lead.

Ake then gave St. Norbert its first singles point and put the Green Knights ahead 3-2 with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Amelia Cogan at No. 2 singles. Doerfert then claimed a 6-3, 6-3 win over Brenda Guan at No. 6 for a 4-3 edge. Gosz then clinched the match by outlasting Joshi 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 at No. 3 and give the Green Knights their first NCAA appearance since 2015.

Against Cornell, St. Norbert jumped out to a 3-0 lead after doubles play. Elizabeth Manlick and Meg Witt beat Julie Thome and Shashanna Moll 8-4 at No. 1. Gosz and Randazzo beat Janice Elkerton and Gabriella Ferro 8-6 at No. 2, while Ake and Doerfert defeated Megan Pope and Abbey Nelson 8-1 at No. 3.

Ake dispatched Moll 6-2, 6-0 at No. 2 singles, while Witt took care of Elkerton 6-1, 6-1 at No. 5 to give St. Norbert the five points needed to wrap up the victory.