LINCOLN, NEB.— The Central women's tennis team opened American Rivers play against Nebraska Wesleyan and came away with a 4-3 win.
           
The Dutch (2-0, 1-0 A-R-C) started off the match strong getting doubles wins from Madi Whalen (junior, Kansas City, Mo., Park Hill) who played with Jennifer Larson (senior, Johnston) and won at No. 3 doubles and Jenna Mitsuko Mahoney (junior, Misawa, Japan, Robert D. Edgren) secured the win with Becca Vala (senior, Omaha, Neb., Elkhorn). Both pairs won 6-2 to secure the team point.
           
This season the team scoring changed. Instead of each match worth one-point, whichever team wins two out of three doubles matches secures the team doubles point.
           
After taking the doubles point the squad got single match wins from Mahoney who won at No. 2 singles 7-6, 6-1, along with Lauren Gano (sophomore, Johnston) 6-0, 6-1. The match came down to No. 4 singles where Emma Murphy (sophomore, Liberty, Mo.) won 6-4, 1-6, 6-2 to grab the fourth point and grab the win.
           
"It was a difficult match," coach Ryun Ferrell said. "Between the travel, and the quick turnaround from playing Saturday, we did not play our best. Despite that we found a way to win."
           
The team will carry this momentum into their next conference match when they host Luther Saturday at Pella High School at 9 a.m.
           
A second group will be traveling to Decatur, Illinois to compete in the Dorothy McClure Tournament.