By: Only the 1990 and 2013 Illinois College women’s tennis teams have won as many matches as this year’s IC squad.
CLAYTON, Mo. – With Thursday afternoon's 7-2 win over Fontbonne University, the Illinois College women's tennis team matched the 1990 and 2013 IC teams for the most wins in a single season. The Lady Blues will go into this weekend's Midwest Conference Championships at 6-9 overall.
Illinois College took a 2-1 lead in doubles, thanks to 8-0 wins at Nos. 2 and 3 by the teams of
Ariel Rhoades and
Lena Reed, as well as
Kalisa Goertz and
Madelyn Deardorff. At No. 1,
Sally Hixson and
Lisa Noggle came back from 6-2 to tie the match at 7-7 before falling, 9-7.
By the time the last doubles match had ended, Illinois College basically had the match clinched. Rhoades, Goertz and Deardorff all claimed 6-0, 6-0 wins at Nos. 3, 5 and 6 to get IC to five points and seal the win. Shortly after that,
Lena Reed finished off a 6-4, 6-2 win at No. 4.
The final two matches to finish were at Nos. 1 and 2 singles. Noggle added a point onto the win with a 6-1, 6-1 victory at No. 2. Mariana Rogers salvaged one last point for the Griffins by defeating Hixson at No. 1, 6-1, 4-6, 10-5.
The MWC Championships begin on Saturday and conclude on Sunday in Madison, Wis. Illinois College has three doubles teams and six singles players competing to be crowned MWC champions at each position.
