Box Score PELLA — For the 12th time in the last six years, the Central College women's tennis team prevailed against Simpson College, besting them by an 8-1 margin on Sunday afternoon.

Central finishes the regular season with a 12-10 mark and Simpson dropped to 7-11.

In a display of depth, the Dutch used 12 different women to compete the dual and no players were used in both singles and doubles.

"We were able to play 12 different people today," coach Ryun Ferrell said. "We've been focused on getting ready for the conference tournament and we felt today gave us the opportunity to play as many people as we could."

Alivia Gerstein (sophomore, Iowa Falls, Iowa Falls-Alden HS) and Sami Thompson (junior, Knoxville) benefitted from it in the form of an 8-0 win at No. 3 doubles.

"Alivia is an extremely talented athlete and Sami is one of the toughest players we have," Ferrell said. "It doesn't surprise me they did so well."
Bronwyn Metcalf (freshman, Pella) and Maddie Hartley (freshman, Clarinda) won 8-3 at No. 1 doubles and Kirsten Jordan (senior, Clear Lake) and Macy Scharff (freshman, Oskaloosa) won 8-4 at No. 2 doubles.

Freshman Alyssa Lewton (Ankeny, Centennial HS) got her first singles win of the season at No. 4 singles with a 4-6, 6-1, 11-9 score. Lewton spent the fall as a setter for Central's volleyball team and joined the tennis squad second semester.

"She started off a little slow," Ferrell said. "She worked through some things and got herself on the right path."
Sarah Schirm (freshman, Cedar Rapids, Xavier HS) and Laurynn Mize (sophomore, Sycamore, Ill.) also had singles victories at No. 2 and No. 3 while Katie Larson (freshman, Fort Madison) and Cassidy Bos (senior, Geneseo, Ill.) were winners at No. 5 and No. 6
           
After playing an exhibition match against Iowa Central Community College on Tuesday, all focus turns towards the American Rivers Conference tournament on April 26-27. In the first round on Friday, Central will play the No. 5 seed Loras College (8-6, 4-4 conference). The Dutch beat the Duhawks 5-4 on September 29 and are 2-0 against them all-time in the league tournament.
           
"That was an interesting day when we played them," Ferrell said. "Loras came out of the blocks and we didn't and it showed. Once we got up to pace it was almost away from us but we were able to snag the win.
           
"They've been on our mind this entire time. This group is the most motivated group we've had in the spring since I've been here. They are ready to go."