For the seventh time in as many years the Luther College women's tennis team has been crowned the American Rivers Conference champions. The Norse secured the outright title with a 7-0 road victory over Nebraska Wesleyan University this afternoon.
The title will be the final Iowa Conference/American Rivers Conference championship as Luther will become a member of the Midwest Conference next year. Since 1982, the first year the Iowa Conference hosted a women's team title, Luther won a league record 34 championships. Hall of Fame coach Su Oertel started the run capturing the first 19 in a row from 1982-2000 and added four more from 2002-2005 for a total of 23. Brian Huinker, who coached the Norse from 2007-11, won championships in 2009 and 2010. Today's conference title was the ninth for Head Coach
Adam Strand who is in the midst of his 15th season.Â
In doubles,
Allie Christensen and
Abby Ostermann played together for the first time this season at No. 1 and posted a (6-2) victory. Lina Lichau and
Abby Struble at No. 2, improved to 8-5 with a (6-3) win at No. 2.
Rafaela Queiroga Tavares and
Avery Schifsky-Seguin at No. 3 won (6-1).
All six singles matches were straight set victories with the Norse losing a total of 15 games of the 81 played. Ostermann won at No. 1 (7-6(7-1), 6-1); Lichau won at No. 2 (6-1, 6-1); Christensen won at No. 3 (6-0, 6-2);
Julia Moreno won at No. 4 (6-1, 6-0);
Ale Villanueva won at No. 5 (6-0, 6-2) and Taveres won at No. 6 (6-0, 6-0).
Box Score
The Norse will wrap up the fall schedule at the
A-R-C Individual Flighted Tournament Friday and Saturday, Oct. 10-11 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
