LINCOLN, NEBRASKA — For the first time in program history, the Central College women's tennis team picked up a road win in the opening round of the American Rivers Conference tournament with a 5-2 victory at No. 3 Nebraska Wesleyan University Tuesday.
Central (7-12) advances to the semifinals and will face No. 2 Coe College Thursday in Cedar Rapids.
"We did a good job today," coach
Ryun Ferrell said. "The team was focused and played hard. It's always windy at these courts but we didn't let it affect us."
The only previous wins for the Dutch over a higher-seeded team were in the 2008 third-place match and the 2003 semifinals.
"In all my years here, this is the most excited squad to be training in the spring with a goal in mind," Ferrell said. "It's all them. They wanted this. They wanted to play and do well in this tournament. This group has been focused and ready to go all spring."
Jenna Mitsuko Mahoney (freshman, Misawa, Japan, Robert D. Edgren HS) and
Becca Vala (sophomore, Omaha, Neb., Elkhorn HS) were responsible for three of Central's five points. The tandem won 8-5 in the No. 2 doubles match. Mahoney won 7-6, 6-1 at No. 4 singles and Vala won 6-2, 6-1 at No. 6 singles.
"Becca is such an independent player," Ferrell said. "I'll ask her if she needs me for anything while she is playing and she always says no. Jenna was down 4-1 and came back to win in the first set. She found her rhythm and stuck with it."
Brianna Lindstrom (junior, North Aurora, Ill., West Aurora HS) and
Jenna Hernandez (junior, Slater, Ballard HS) won 8-3 at No. 3 doubles.
Alli Kreider (junior, Norwalk) was leading 6-1, 3-0 at No. 5 singles before her opponent retired and giving Kreider the win.
In their first meeting this season, Coe beat Central 5-4 on September 3 in Pella.
"We're super excited to play Coe," Ferrell said. "We're not going to surprise them at all but we're going to be ready. I'm sure they'll be ready to go, too."
