PELLA—Tuesday's 8-1 win over Simpson College gave the Central College women's tennis team its third win in Iowa Conference play and clinched a spot for the Dutch in the spring conference tournament.
Central is now 5-1 on the season with a 3-1 mark in leagues matches. The Storm dropped its fourth conference match and are now 2-4, 0-4 conference.
Playing a rare mid-week match, the Dutch did what they needed to do in order to secure a win and a spot in the league tournament.
"It's hard to play in the middle of the week," coach
Ryun Ferrell said. "Our players have class all day and then come out here pretty tired and hungry. Ultimately, we did great and now we know we are in the tournament for sure. We've just got to knock off as many teams as we can and get the best seed possible."
In doubles play, Central used three new pairings and still were able to go unblemished. The No. 3 pairing of
Jenna Stewart (junior, Burlington, Notre Dame HS) and
Madison Krumm (sophomore, Kellogg, Iowa, Grinnell HS) pitched an 8-0 shutout.
The bottom half of Central's singles lineup put the match away early with three dominant victories. Stewart won 6-0, 6-0 at No. 5 while No. 4
Paige Vannausdle (senior, Red Oak) triumphed 6-1, 6-0 and No. 6
Kirsten Jordan (sophomore, Clear Lake) was victorious 6-1, 6-1.
"Those three really took care of business," Ferrell said.
Playing at No. 2 singles for the first time, freshman
Karleigh Schilling (Swisher, Cedar Rapids Prairie HS) battled for a 6-1, 3-6, 1-8 win.
"Karleigh is a stud," Ferrell said. "She plays hard and does anything you ask. When you give her advice, she tries to implement it right away."
All four of Central's remaining dual matches this fall will take place in at home starting with a doubleheader against Nebraska Wesleyan University and Buena Vista University on Saturday, September 30. The Dutch will face the Prairie Wolves at 9 a.m. and the Beavers at 3 p.m.
