KOHLER, Wis. - The second-seeded Wisconsin Lutheran College women's tennis team took to the court twice Saturday in the Northern Athletics Conference Tournament, defeating third-seeded Concordia University Wisconsin, 5-2, in the semifinals, before falling to top-seeded Edgewood College, 5-2, in the tournament's championship match.
The Warriors grabbed one win in the doubles portion of the competition in their opening match against the Falcons (12-10) as the No. 3 doubles team of Terri Glasel (Appleton, Wis./Fox Valley Lutheran) and Kathryn Hendee (Rockton, Ill./Hononegah) defeated CUW's Ashley Knoll and Callie Reinke, 8-5.
Trailing 2-1 heading into singles action, WLC collected much-needed wins in all four singles flights that finished first. Kaitlyn Strehlow (Hales Corners, Wis./Wisconsin Lutheran) continued her dominance of the NAC with a defeat of Julie Spransy at No. 1, 6-0, 6-0. Emily Pearson (Prairie Du Sac, Wis./Luther Preparatory) won her No. 2 match, 6-4, 6-1, over CUW's Jaclyn Ward. WLC's Hendee defeated Reinke in impressive 6-0, 6-1 fashion at No. 3. Kendall Bonnin (Kenosha, Wis./St. Joseph) won with ease over Knoll at No. 5, 6-2, 6-2. The contests at No. 4 and No. 6 singles went unfinished as the match had already been decided.
The Warriors then advanced to meet top-seeded Edgewood in a rematch of last year's championship match with a berth to the NCAA Tournament on the line. Things looked promising for WLC early as it took two of three doubles matches for the 2-1 lead. The doubles team of Strehlow and Bonnin fought hard to seal an 8-6 victory against Anna Miles and Laura Olsen at No. 1. At No. 3, the tandem of Hendee and Glasel earned an 8-6 victory against Sarah Rendon and Ellie Wilkie.
The Eagles (18-11) countered in singles play, winning matches at No. 2, No. 3, No. 4, and No. 6 in straight sets. WLC was unable to win no more than three games in each of the matches that finished. Matches at No. 1 and No. 5 singles were still being contested when the match came to an end. Edgewood moves onto the NCAA Tournament where it will represent the NAC for the fourth time in the past five seasons.
Wisconsin Lutheran concludes its season 15-7 overall and 10-1 in conference play.
