LISLE, ILL. – Rebounding from a tough loss earlier in the day, the Lakeland College women's tennis team came back to defeat Benedictine (Ill.) University Saturday afternoon for a split of a pair of Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference matches.
The Muskies lost at Aurora (Ill.) University 5-4 in their first match of the day, as the absence of one of the team's typical starters may have cost it a match win. The Muskie then traveled to Lisle and defeated Benedictine 6-3 to improve to 7-2 overall and 5-2 in the NACC.
With the win, Lakeland clinched its best-ever record since joining the conference in 2006, surpassing the program's previous highs of six overall and four conference wins set last year. The Muskies also wrapped up a winning record for the first time since 2003.
Lakeland played without
Erica Hoffmann (
Sr.-Sheboygan Falls, Wis.), its normal No. 3 singles player who also plays No. 2 doubles but was back home attending a family event. Without her, the Muskies lost a close one against Aurora despite dominating play at the top of singles and doubles.
Victoria Powelson (
So.-Ishpeming, Mich.) handled Christy Savellano 6-4, 6-0 at No. 1 singles, and
Lynn Pipke (
So.-Greenfield, Wis.) rolled past Emily Kuntzi 6-1, 6-1 at No. 2 singles. The duo also was impressive at No. 1 doubles with an 8-1 win over Savellano and Abby Matayka.
Unfortunately, the Muskies were able to take just one other win, as
Brittany Jurek (
Sr.-Gladstone, Mich.) defeated Aurora's Kate Richerson 6-3, 6-3 at No. 5 singles. The closest chances for Lakeland to get a fifth win came at the remaining singles matches, but
Maggie Liston (
Fr.-Lemont, Ill.) was defeated by Matayka at No. 3 singles in straight sets (6-2, 7-6) including a second set tiebreaker (7-5).
Jenna Oberthaler (
Sr.-Iron Mountain, Mich.) also was defeated at No. 6 singles, losing to Melanie Findlay 6-1, 3-6, 6-2.
Powelson and Pipke carried Lakeland against Benedictine as well, combining for three more wins. Powelson defeated Micah Goyao 6-1, 6-1, while Pipke got by Bohvana Movva 7-6, 6-2 at No. 2 singles. The two also were dominant in an 8-1 win over Kam Haifleigh and Vivianna Iway at No. 1 doubles.
Oberthaler also picked up a win at No. 5 singles, defeating Anna MacLachlan 6-3, 6-1. The Muskies' other two wins came via forfeit, as the Eagles did not enter players at No. 6 singles or No. 3 doubles.
Lakeland next will face one of the top squads in the NACC when it travels to take on Concordia University Wisconsin on Wednesday at 4 p.m.
