By: Ceding two points to Cornell from the outset, the Lady Blues couldn’t make up ground in an 8-1 defeat.
MOUNT VERNON, Iowa – The Illinois College women's tennis team battled tooth and nail at No. 1 doubles and Nos. 1 and 2 singles, but the Lady Blues were unable to overcome the 2-0 lead given to Cornell College from the outset when IC could only field five players for the match. The Rams picked up their first victory of the season Saturday morning, dropping Illinois College to 1-2 (0-1 MWC).
Cornell was quick to turn its 2-0 lead into a 4-0 advantage after the conclusion of doubles play. Sophie Robertson and Shashanna Moll defeated
Lisa Noggle and
Brianna Pohlman, 8-0, to make it 3-0 in favor of the Rams. Gabrielle Ferro and Julia Thome were then able to fend off a strong challenge from
Tamar Norville and
Kathryn Ryan at No. 1 doubles, winning it 8-6.
The Rams took straight-set victories at Nos. 3, 4 and 5 singles to clinch the win. At No. 1, Thome was also able to win in two sets over Ryan, though the freshman was in it throughout, falling 6-4, 7-6(4). The one point that the Lady Blues were able to get from the day's action came from Norville at No. 2 singles. Matched with Robertson, the senior dropped the first set but stormed back to break Robertson in the final two sets and claim a 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory.
Illinois College completes the Iowa portion of its MWC matches on Sunday, taking on Grinnell College at 9 a.m.
