KOHLER – The Lakeland College women's tennis team wrapped up a special regular season in appropriate style Tuesday, sweeping Wisconsin Lutheran College in the team's fall regular season finale.
The Muskies defeated the Warriors 9-0 to finish the regular season at 11-2 and clinch a tie for second in the final Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference standings. Lakeland's 9-2 conference mark is its best ever in the NACC, and the nine conference wins equal the total amount for the team in its first seven years in the NACC.
Lakeland now waits to find out its seeding in the NACC Tournament, which will take place in the spring. The Muskies will be seeded anywhere from second to fourth, with second being preferred as the top two teams get byes into the semifinals of the tourney.
Along with a winning effort on the court, the Muskies also made a difference off the court Tuesday. The team collected pledges this month asking for donations to Safe Harbor of Sheboygan County for every game the team won Tuesday, and the team raised more than $2,000 for the organization's fight against domestic abuse and sexual assault.
"I couldn't be more proud of this team," said Lakeland head coach Casey Carr. "(It's) a wonderful group of student athletes making a difference in our community.
"Today was a perfect example of what we are supposed to teach young adults. It wasn't just the tennis team that raised the money. It was the students, the faculty, the professors, the athletic department (at Lakeland). This is what Lakeland College and being a liberal arts college is all about.
Lakeland overwhelmed the Warriors (4-9 overall, 4-5 NACC) in singles matches and won several tight doubles matches. It started at No. 1 singles, where
Victoria Powelson (
So.-Ishpeming, Mich.) posted an eye-opening win, defeating Kendall Bonnin 6-0, 6-0. Bonnin was previously undefeated in conference matches this season.
Lynn Pipke (
So.-Greenfield, Wis.) and
Erica Hoffmann (
Sr.-Sheboygan Falls, Wis.) were nearly as impressive, as both recorded 6-0, 6-1 wins. Pipke defeated Susanna Harbach at No. 2 singles and Hoffmann handled Kalyn Geddes at No. 3 singles.
The Muskies also rolled in the bottom half matches in singles.
Maggie Liston (
Fr.-Lemont, Ill.) defeated Bethany Soderlund 6-3, 6-3 at No. 4 singles,
Brittany Jurek (
Sr.-Gladstone, Mich.) defeated Amanda Pearson 6-3, 6-4 at No. 5 singles, and
Jenna Oberthaler (
Sr.-Iron Mountain, Mich.) topped Rachel Klement 6-2, 6-3 at No. 6 singles.
Powelson and Pipke were stretched in their No. 1 doubles match but won again, defeating Bonnin and Geddes 8-6. Jurek and Oberthaler won by the same score at No. 3 doubles over Pearson and Klement, while Hoffmann and Liston had an easier time, defeating Harbach and Soderlund 8-2.
