Blugold women split weekend of tennis
Eau Claire loses close match to St. Olaf 5-4, but come back against Cornell 7-2
Frank Pellegrino
Issue date: 3/9/09 Section: Sports
After falling to St. Olaf (Minn.) 5-4 on Friday, the UW-Eau Claire women's tennis team rebounded with a convincing 7-2 victory against Cornell College (Iowa) on Saturday.
Junior Courtney Lynne said a few of the team members were ill on Friday, which required the team to make a few lineup changes. Overall she felt the team adjusted nicely and played well for the circumstances.
"I think that the doubles played really well," Lynne said. "And, in the singles we had some good rallies, played some long matches, and just couldn't pull through in the end."
Included in the long matches was an extensive battle for the No. 4 singles spot. Junior Erin Welch came away with a 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 10-3 victory after an enduring clash.
"I was a little upset in the first set because I got up and let her back in and she ended up winning the first set," Welch said. "But I've actually had a lot of long matches this year … I just knew that I had done this before, and I could do it again."
Junior Gina Dahl defeated her opponent 7-5, 6-4 for a win at No. 1 singles. Welch was the only other Blugold to come away with a singles victory.
Following a close loss in No. 1 doubles, the two other Eau Claire doubles teams responded well. The No. 2 team, junior Brenna McCormick and Welch, along with the No. 3 doubles team of freshman Megan Born and sophomore Alli Kishaba each came away victorious.
After the narrow defeat, Lynne and Welch both agreed that the team had nothing to hang their heads about.
"It was our first match coming off the offseason," Welch said. "Overall I thought everyone played hard and I didn't think there was anything we should be upset about."
Saturday, the Lady Blugolds bounced back swiftly, not only winning the overall competition 7-2, but also winning their matches by wide margins.
Lynne said that the team was displeased after the loss, but that the mood didn't stay down for long. She added that the team was very excited to face Cornell, who placed third in their conference, because Eau Claire placed third in the WIAC. Both teams were ready to prove what their conference is about, Lynne felt.
"The fact that we beat them pretty badly shows that our conference is definitely a little tougher," Lynne said.
Dahl lost 2-6, 7-6 (7-5), 10-8 in a very close competition for the No.1 singles spot. The Blugolds dominated the rest of the singles contests, giving up just three games in the other five matches.
The No.1 doubles team fell for the second straight day in a 9-7 loss. However, the No. 2 team of McCormick and Welch along with the No. 3 team of freshman Emily Hiebl and Kishaba each won their matches handily, 8-1.
"Me and Brenna did good together and we were just moving really well as a team," Welch said.
After the weekend, Eau Claire is now 9-5 on the year.
Next up for Eau Claire is a spring break trip to Orlando for a week of training and matches.
"This is what we look forward to every year," Lynne said "Every single year we get to play around this really beautiful court, practicing almost everyday and playing five total matches."
Junior Courtney Lynne said a few of the team members were ill on Friday, which required the team to make a few lineup changes. Overall she felt the team adjusted nicely and played well for the circumstances.
"I think that the doubles played really well," Lynne said. "And, in the singles we had some good rallies, played some long matches, and just couldn't pull through in the end."
Included in the long matches was an extensive battle for the No. 4 singles spot. Junior Erin Welch came away with a 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 10-3 victory after an enduring clash.
"I was a little upset in the first set because I got up and let her back in and she ended up winning the first set," Welch said. "But I've actually had a lot of long matches this year … I just knew that I had done this before, and I could do it again."
Junior Gina Dahl defeated her opponent 7-5, 6-4 for a win at No. 1 singles. Welch was the only other Blugold to come away with a singles victory.
Following a close loss in No. 1 doubles, the two other Eau Claire doubles teams responded well. The No. 2 team, junior Brenna McCormick and Welch, along with the No. 3 doubles team of freshman Megan Born and sophomore Alli Kishaba each came away victorious.
After the narrow defeat, Lynne and Welch both agreed that the team had nothing to hang their heads about.
"It was our first match coming off the offseason," Welch said. "Overall I thought everyone played hard and I didn't think there was anything we should be upset about."
Saturday, the Lady Blugolds bounced back swiftly, not only winning the overall competition 7-2, but also winning their matches by wide margins.
Lynne said that the team was displeased after the loss, but that the mood didn't stay down for long. She added that the team was very excited to face Cornell, who placed third in their conference, because Eau Claire placed third in the WIAC. Both teams were ready to prove what their conference is about, Lynne felt.
"The fact that we beat them pretty badly shows that our conference is definitely a little tougher," Lynne said.
Dahl lost 2-6, 7-6 (7-5), 10-8 in a very close competition for the No.1 singles spot. The Blugolds dominated the rest of the singles contests, giving up just three games in the other five matches.
The No.1 doubles team fell for the second straight day in a 9-7 loss. However, the No. 2 team of McCormick and Welch along with the No. 3 team of freshman Emily Hiebl and Kishaba each won their matches handily, 8-1.
"Me and Brenna did good together and we were just moving really well as a team," Welch said.
After the weekend, Eau Claire is now 9-5 on the year.
Next up for Eau Claire is a spring break trip to Orlando for a week of training and matches.
"This is what we look forward to every year," Lynne said "Every single year we get to play around this really beautiful court, practicing almost everyday and playing five total matches."
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