By: The Illinois College women’s tennis team had some good performances on Sunday, but the Lady Blues couldn’t keep up with the traditional conference power.
JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – Playing the team that has won nine of the past 10 Midwest Conference titles, the Illinois College women's tennis team fell to the Grinnell Pioneers by a count of 9-0 on Sunday morning at the Bellatti Tennis Complex.
Competing against Grinnell – who is more than two weeks into its season already and is favored to be right at the top of the conference pile again in 2014 – the Lady Blues had to be at the absolute top of their game in order to have a chance. Though IC would lose each match, there were signs of the team coming along.
Ally Kjellander battled hard against Shirlene Luk at No. 1 singles. Luk was last year's MWC champion in No. 1 singles, but the IC sophomore pressed her in the first set before falling, 6-3. Luk closed out Kjellander, 6-0, in the second set.
Tamar Norville slid one spot down the ladder to No. 2 on Sunday and lost a 6-2, 6-2 match to Virginia Purcell. Down at No. 6, Briana Pohlman was defeated by Briannah Wilson, 6-1, 6-4.
Conference action continues for the Lady Blues on Wednesday afternoon as the team makes its opening road trip of the season. IC and Monmouth will meet at 3 p.m. at the Monmouth Tennis Stadium.
