Women's tennis update: Splits at Dubuque, falls to Central

The Simpson women's tennis team picked up their second conference win of the season with a 7-2 defeat of Dubuque on Saturday, recovering from a loss earlier in the day to Loras. Simpson then went to Central and fell to the Dutch on Tuesday.

A Look Ahead
Simpson (2-5, 2-3 IIAC) returns home after a four-match road trip, in which the Storm went 1-3, all against conference opponents. Simpson welcomes William Jewell and Wartburg to the Buxton Memorial Tennis Courts for a triangular Saturday. Simpson begins the day with a 9 a.m. match against William Jewell and closes with a 3 p.m. showdown with the Knights.

A Look Back

Central 9, Simpson 0 – Tuesday, Sept. 15

Simpson couldn't get the ball rolling against the Dutch, as Simpson fell in straight sets. Jill Berner (Sr., Albia, Iowa) gave Sara Dale a run at No. 1 singles, coming within one (7-6) in the second set after dropping the first set, 6-2.

The Storm's No. 6, Lindsay Nash (Fr., Keokuk, Iowa) turned in a solid effort against Jaime Ruisch in singles before falling 6-4, 7-5.

In doubles it was more of the same, with the Storm's top duo of Berner and Tiffany Bost (Fr., Spokane, Wash.) falling to Faith Bliss and Kayla Donner, 8-4. Lynae Gruber (So., Shenandoah, Iowa) and Corrie McDonald (Fr., Glendale, Ariz.) came within three points of Emily Swartz and Trinh Le at No. 3 doubles, falling 8-5.

Simpson 7, Dubuque 2 – Saturday, Sept. 12

The Storm swept through the doubles portion of the contest and took four of six singles matches in defeating the Spartans, 7-2 Sept. 12 at Dubuque.

The combination of Berner and Bost set the tone for the day's second match of the triangular, dropping Hannah Scheidewend and Emma Bridget 8-2 at the No. 1 slot. Mikayla Struebing (Fr., Indianola, Iowa) and Allison Anderson (So., Eldridge, Iowa) kept the momentum going with an 8-5 triumph at No. 2 doubles and the duo of Nash and Gruber completed the doubles sweep with an 8-1 win at No. 3.

In singles, Berner took care of Scheidewend at No. 1 (6-3, 6-0) while Bost dropped a close match at the No. 2 spot to Dubuque's Kristina McWethy (6-4, 4-6, 10-8). Struebing also dropped a close, three-set match at No. 3 singles (2-6, 6-4, 10-7) while Anderson, Nash and Megan Kirts (Fr., Ramstein, Germany) closed out the contest in straight-sets.

Loras 8, Simpson 1 – Saturday, Sept. 12

Nash provided the Storm with its only win at No. 6 singles, defeating Hannah Mory in two (6-2, 6-2).

In doubles, Simpson's top pair of Berner and Bost gave the Storm its best chance for a second win on the day, but Ale Ruales and Lindsay Dunkirk of Loras took the match, 8-6.