ST. PETER, MINN. — The top two players in the Central College women's tennis lineup battled to tough singles loss at the 2018 USTA/ITA Midwest Regional Championships on Friday.

The tournament format is designed as a qualifier for the ITA National Small College Championships, which features the top performers at the eight different regional sites.
           
Karleigh Schilling (sophomore, Swisher, Cedar Rapids Prairie HS) won her first set against Elizabeth Fink from the College of St. Scholastica (Minn.) 6-3. But Fink rebounded to take the match 3-6, 6-2, 6-2.
           
"Karleigh played well in some tough conditions today with 20 mile per hour wind gusts," assistant coach Peter Greteman said. "In the end, her match came down to who managed the conditions better and unfortunately, her opponent played a little cleaner down the stretch."
           
Jenna Stewart (senior, Burlington, Notre Dame HS) pushed Carthage College's (Wis.) Natalie Favia in the opening set but lost 7-6, 6-2.
           
"Jenna took a step forward today," Greteman said. "She played some stretches of really smart tennis and I think she can continue to build on what she's accomplished this weekend."
           
In doubles action, Schilling and Stewart defeated Kayla Reusche and Sierra Griffith of Simpson College 8-3 in a consolation match. They had fallen to Grace Krueger and Shanna Mogden of Carroll College (Wis.) 8-5 in the first match.
           
Schilling and Stewart aren't yet done for the weekend, as they have singles consolation matches scheduled for Saturday.