Green Knights Finish Fourth at MWC Team Tournament

From Sports Information Director, October 17, 2008 | Women's Tennis
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

ROCKFORD, Ill. - The St. Norbert College women's tennis team placed fourth at the Midwest Conference Team Championships held at the Rockford Boylan Tennis Center.

The Green Knights lost a heartbreaking 5-4 decision to Grinnell College in the semifinals, then dropped a 5-2 count to Monmouth College for third place. St. Norbert finishes dual action at 5-8 overall.

Grinnell took two of three doubles matches, with the lone St. Norbert win a 6-7 (4-7), 6-0, 6-4 triumph at No. 1 with Kelly Van Handel and Lauren Post beating Toby Cain and Tatyana Sukharnikova.

The Green Knights mustered three wins in singles play but couldn't quite get the pivotal fourth win to post the team victory. Van Handel won at No. 1, topping Cain 6-2, 6-2. Post defeated Jill Akiyama 6-3, 6-1 at No. 2, while Anna Reardon topped Curran Johnson at No. 6 by a 6-2, 6-4 score.

Against Monmouth, Van Handel and Post again at No. 1 doubles for the Green Knights with a 6-3, 6-0 win over Cassie Frantz and Brittany Donnelly. Lauren Lathers and Reardon topped Sarah McLinden and Maddy Ethington 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3) at No. 3 doubles.

The Scots won the four singles matches that were completed, while two were unfinished when a decision was reached.