Box Score The Luther College women's tennis team defeated Loras College 9-0 this afternoon in Dubuque, Iowa and claimed its fifth consecutive American Rivers Conference regular season championship. The title was a league leading 32nd in school history.
The Norse dominated the regular season, defeating seven of eight league opponents 9-0. In doubles play they were 24-0 and in singles action 47-1.
Finishing with a conference mark of 8-0, Luther has now posted five consecutive years of a perfect 8-0 record. The title was the seventh for Head Coach
Adam Strand who is in the midst of his 12th season. He has led the Norse to a record of 193-15 against conference opponents during his career.
Tonight, Luther jumped out to a 3-0 advantage following doubles play.
Sofia Sackett and
Natalia Smith improved to 11-2 for the year thanks to an (8-5) victory over Mary Breitbach and Dorothy Deans at No. 1.
Julianna Mascardo and
Abby Struble defeated Caroline Huchinson and Leie Papanicholas (8-0) at No. 2.
Riley O'Donnell and
Abby Ostermann defeated Ellie Kalina and Clair Moore (8-2) at No. 3.
Five of the six singles matches were won in straight sets. Sackett and Breitbach battled to a three-set tie breaker at No. 1. Sackett won the match (6-2, 4-6, 11-9). Ostermann defeated Deans (6-3, 6-1) at No. 2; O'Donnell defeated Huchinson (6-0, 7-6(7-1) at No. 3;
Rafaela Queiroga Tavares defeated Moore (6-4, 6-1); Stuble defeated Papanicholas (6-3, 6-4); and
Lena Lichau posted a (6-0, 6-0) victory over Kalina at No. 6.
Complete Results
The victory will give Luther the No. 1 seed for the six-team Automatic Qualifying Tournament that will begin with the first round Tuesday, April 23. The semifinals will take place Thursday, April 25, and the finals will be held Saturday, April 27. The top-seeds throughout the tournament will host. The winner of the tournament will earn the league's automatic berth to the NCAA III National Tournament.
Up next, the Norse will compete at the A-R-C Individual Tournament this Friday and Saturday, Oct. 13-14. The two-day tournament will be held at two sites in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Play will be held at Veterans Memorial Tennis Center and the Coe College Clark Raquet Center.
