PELLA— A 6-3 victory over Coe College helped the Central College women's tennis team celebrate its Senior Day Saturday afternoon.
It was a return to victory for the Dutch (2-3, 2-3 American Rivers Conference) after losing a trio of road matches. It also served as the first victory in conference play over the Kohawks (4-4, 3-3 conference) since 2004, a 15-match losing streak.
"It was good to get it done," coach
Ryun Ferrell said. "We played good enough. We're still not where we want to be or need to be we're still taking steps."
Karleigh Schilling (senior, Swisher, Cedar Rapids, Prairie HS) aided the team's victory with her 2-0 day. She partnered with
Alyssa Lewton (junior, Ankeny Centennial) for an 8-6 No. 1 doubles win before recording a 6-1, 6-1 victory in the No. 1 singles match.
"She is playing some of the best tennis I have ever seen her play," Ferrell said. "I am so proud of her. She is just doing great things right now."
Central got out to a 2-1 lead after
Bronwyn Metcalf (junior, Pella) and
Maddie Hartley (junior, Clarinda) topped the No. 2 doubles pairing from Coe 8-3.
"If you can get up 2-1 in doubles you can breathe a little bit," Ferrell said. "Our No. 1 and No. 2 teams really started clicking. Our No. 3 team started slow otherwise we could have been up 3-0."
In singles, Lewton also won 6-2, 6-3 at No. 3 while Hartley was triumphant 6-2, 6-0 at No. 4. The final Central point came from
Sarah Schirm's (junior, Cedar Rapids, Xavier HS) 5-6, 6-1, 10-6 win at the No. 6 hole.
Central travels to Lincoln, Nebraska tomorrow for a 12:30 p.m. match against Nebraska Wesleyan University.
