MACOMB, Ill.- The Western Illinois women's tennis team clinched a berth to its third straight Summit League championship after splitting a pair of matches against Oral Roberts and Centenary at the varsity courts next to Brophy Hall.
The Westerwinds (12-11, 5-2 Summit League) started the day off with a battle for second place with Oral Roberts. Starting with singles play, Western was only able to take two of the six matches. Junior Amanda Griffin improved to 4-2 in league play with a win at No. 1 singles, beating the Golden Eagle's Hayden Rush, 7-5, 6-4. Junior Stephanie Baumer picked up the other point for the Westerwinds, defeating Ana Costa in straight sets, 6-0, 7-6 (3), at No. 4.
Western received an early two-point advantage in the second match of the doubleheader against Centenary after getting wins at the No. 5 and No. 6 singles positions from defaults.
Only needing two more points to clinch the match, the Westerwinds secured those wins without giving up a game. Senior Kim Lennartsson beat Stephanie Canady, 6-0, 6-0 at No. 3 singles, while Baumer won her second match of the day against Arielle Schulman, 6-0, 6-0, at the No. 4 spot.
The Westerwinds finish the league cluster, along with regular season play April 19, with a 9 a.m. match against Oakland.
April 18, 2009
Macomb, Ill. (Varsity Courts)
Oral Roberts 4, Western Illinois 2
Singles
1. Amanda Griffin (WIU) def. Hayden Rush 7-5, 6-4
2. Rafaela Souza (ORU) def. Kim Lennartsson 6-1, 6-4
3. Tayler Pippen (ORU) def. Zi Wang 6-2, 7-6 (1)
4. Stephanie Baumer (WIU) def. Ana Costa 6-0, 7-6 (3)
5. Corrine Langston (ORU) def. Kate Kennedy 6-1, 6-0
6. Ekaterina Kondashova (ORU) def. Yana Meinert 6-1, 6-4
Doubles
Did not play
Western Illinois 4, Centenary 0
Singles
1. Amanda Griffin (WIU) led Courtney Myers 6-0, 2-1 DNF
2. Zi Wang (WIU) led Kate Buchanan 6-0, 2-0 DNF
3. Kim Lennartsson (WIU) def. Stephanie Canady 6-0, 6-0
4. Stephanie Baumer (WIU) def. Arielle Schulman 6-0, 6-0
5. Yana Meinert (WIU) wins by default
6. Kate Kennedy (WIU) wins by defailt
Doubles
Did not play.
