SAINT PETER, MINN. — Representing the Central College women's tennis team well at the USTA/ITA Division III Midwest Regional, Karleigh Schilling (junior, Swisher, Cedar Rapids Prairie HS) and Maddie Hartley (sophomore, Clarinda) each had a win in the opening round of singles matches Friday.
           
Schilling won her opening match against Rebekah Spiegelhoff of Concordia University (Wis.) 6-1, 6-1. She then pushed the No. 17 seed Grace Krueger of Carroll University (Wis.) to a third set before falling 6-3, 3-6, 3-6.
           
"Karleigh played toe-to-toe with Grace the entire match," assistant coach Trevor Budewitz said. "Grace is one of the better players at this tournament. The score does not given an accurate description of how close the match was, it easily could have gone our way."
           
Hartley triumphed 6-2, 6-0 over Morgan Moxon of St. Norbert College (Wis.) 6-2, 6-0 in her first match. She lost to Amalin Sorajja of Macalaster College (Minn.) 7-5, 6-1 in the second round.
           
"I was happy with the way Maddie handled her first match today," Budewitz said. "She knows her game and when she finds her groove she is tough to beat."
           
In doubles matches, Schilling and Laurynn Mize (junior, Sycamore, Ill.) were defeated 8-4 against Alyssa Crew and Kai Heineman of Edgewood (Wis.). Hartley and Bronwyn Metcalf (sophomore, Pella) were ousted by the No. 5 seed Natalie Wijesinghe and Emily Cooper of the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire 8-0.
           
"We ran into some tougher competition during doubles," Budewitz said. "There are a few things to iron out, but they are working hard. I know they are going to improve every day."
           
Both pairings will have at least one match in the consolation bracket starting at 11 a.m. on Saturday. Schilling and Hartley are both eliminated from the singles draw.