MADISON, Wis. and DULUTH, Minn. — The Gustavus women's tennis team wrapped up the Midwest Invite in Madison, while a split squad headed north to face UM-Duluth Saturday afternoon. The Gusties dropped all three Saturday matches, finishing fourth at the Midwest Invite.
Gustavus 1, No. 7 Wash U 8
The Gusties opened the second round of the tournament with a tall order ahead of them, facing the second-ranked team in the region and the seventh-ranked team in the nation in Wash U.
Alli Laux and
Pavla Yakimova claimed the only point of the match for the Gusties in the No. 3 doubles, winning 8-6.
Wash U won all six singles points, claiming all in two sets to take the 8-1 victory over the Gusties and advance to the championship match.
Gustavus 2, No. 25 Grinnell 7
For the second time this season, Gustavus met the Grinnell College Pioneers on the court. Unlike last match, though, the Pioneers got the best of the Gusties, taking the third place match by a score of 7-2.
Grinnell took a 2-1 lead after the doubles, with the Gusties' only win once again coming from Laux and Yakimova, this time at No. 2 doubles. The duo won 8-3. In singles play,
Ella De Young claimed the second point of the match for the Gusties, winning at No. 6 singles, 7-6 (7-4), 6-1.
Gustavus 3, UM-Duluth 4
While their teammates were battling nationally-ranked competitors in Madison, the Gusties sent another group up to Duluth to face the UMD Bulldogs. Duluth just barely got the better of the Gusties, winning 4-3.
In doubles play,
Ashley Stroebel and
Taylor Ruhl won at No. 3 6-1, but Duluth claimed the doubles point with wins at No. 1 and No. 2.
Both teams battled closely in the singles matches.
Madison Packer took No. 2 with two 6-2 victories.
Veranique Poquette added another win at No. 5 (6-1, 6-1), before
Annie Klemmensen claimed the final singles point for the Gusties at No. 6, winning 6-3 and 6-1.
The Gusties, now 8-9 overall, return to conference play next week, facing both Hamline and St. Catherine on Sunday in St. Paul.
