The Gustavus women’s tennis team won the 12-team Midwest Invitational by defeating Denison University (Ohio) 6-3. The tournament was held in Madison, Wisconsin. The Gusties, who are now 19-7 overall and ranked ninth nationally, defeated DePauw University 9-0 on Friday afternoon in the quarterfinals. The team then defeated Washington University 6-3 in the semifinals on Saturday morning before upsetting fifth ranked Denison in the championship match on Saturday afternoon.
Championship Match
Gustavus 6 Denison 3
Singles
1. Tara Houlihan (GAC) defeated Lauren Gerlach (DU) 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5)
2. Lauren Hom (GAC) defeated Amelia Crace (DU) 2-6, 7-6 (6) 6-3
3. Lyndsey Palen (GAC) defeated Meredith Sulser (DU) 6-4, 3-6, 6-1
4. Marla Menne (GAC) lost to Lauren Parsons (DU) 2-6, 1-6
5. Jaime Gaard (GAC) lost to Erin Coughlin (DU) 2-6, 2-6
6. Kara Smiley (GAC) defeated Natalie Saul (DU) 6-4, 6-1
Doubles
1. Houlihan/Palen (GAC) lost to Gerlach/Coughlin (DU) 2-8
2. Smiley/Hom (GAC) defeated Crace/Parsons (DU) 8-4
3. Gaard/Menne (GAC) defeated Allison Lesnett/Sulser (DU) 9-7
Semifinals
Gustavus 6 Washington University (St. Louis, Missouri) 3
Singles
1. Tara Houlihan (GAC) defeated Kacie Cook (WU) 6-3, 4-6, 6-4
2. Lauren Hom (GAC) defeated Laura Greenberg (WU) 6-2, 4-6, 6-4
3. Lyndsey Palen (GAC) defeated Lauren Zwick (WU) 6-2, 6-1
4. Marla Menne (GAC) defeated Erin Fleming (WU) 6-4, 7-6 (2)
5. Jaime Gaard (GAC) lost to Erica Greenberg (WU) 2-6, 1-6
6. Kara Smiley (GAC) defeated Sara Kabakoff (WU) 6-3, 7-5
Doubles
1. Menne/Gaard (GAC) defeated Zwick/Fleming (WU) 8-4
2. Hannah Frericks/Darcy Hawbrick (GAC) lost to E. Greenberg/Becky Rovener (WU) 0-8
3. Washington University wins in walkover as Gustavus chooses not to play with match clinched