PELLA — The Luther College women's tennis team defeated Central College 8-1 Friday night, taking the lead in the American Rivers Conference title race.
           
Central (8-5, 6-1 conference) and Luther (7-2, 6-0 conference) entered the match as the last two remaining unbeaten programs in league matches.
           
"We played well, they're just better than we are," coach Ryun Ferrell said. "We needed some things to go our way and it didn't happen. We did everything we could to make them uncomfortable but they made adjustments."
           
Alyssa Lewton (senior, Ankeny, Centennial HS) was victorious at No. 2 singles for Central's only point. She won it with a score of 6-4, 1-6, 10-7.
           
"That's one of the smartest matches I've seen her play," Ferrell said. "She knew when to come in and be aggressive. Once she found her groove, she stuck with it and took her opponent down."
           
Central plays its final dual match of the season at home Saturday morning against Wartburg College at 9:30 a.m.
           
"Wartburg is always tough," Ferrell said. "We have to be ready. We're honoring our six seniors and we want to make sure we send them off in the right way."