The Gustavus women’s tennis team opened its fall season at the Gopher Invitational hosted by the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. The Division III Gusties were the only non-Division I team at the tournament which included the University of Minnesota, Drake, Iowa State, UW-Green Bay and South Dakota State. The tournament consisted of three singles flights and two doubles flights. The Gustavus players taking part in the tournament were Lyndsey Palen, Lauren Hom, Jamie Gaard, Marla Menne, Kara Smiley, Jenny White, Hanna Frericks, Elissa Bashleben, Alex Burleigh, and Jenny Arnfelt. Jenny Arnfelt won the third flight to lead the Gusties.
In singles play, Lauren Hom, Jamie Gaard and Marla Menne played in the Timberwolves Flight (the first flight). Hom posted a 1-2 record with a win over Allison Wilkie of Drake 6-3, 6-2. Gaard posted a record of 2-1 with wins over Danielle Uscinski of Iowa State 6-2, 4-6, 3-1 retired and teammate Marla Menne 6-2, 6-3. Posted a record of 1-2 with a win against Jen Creed of South Dakota State 6-0, 6-0.
Kara Smiley, Lyndsey Palen, Jenny White and Hannah Frericks took part in the Vikings Flight (the second flight). Palen, who advanced to the semifinals of this bracket and ended up finishing fourth, posted a record of 2-2. Palen recorded wins over Melissa Rippy of Drake 6-0, 6-0 and Caitlin Loprinzi of Iowa State 7-6 (3), 3-6, 6-4. Jenny White posted a record of 3-1 and won the consolation draw. She recorded wins over Jenny Tan of UW-Green Bay 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 and teammates Hannah Frericks and Kara Smiley. Smiley posted a record of 1-2 with a win over Melissa Rippy of Drake 6-0, 6-0. Hannah Frericks finished at 1-2 with a win over Melissa Rippy of Drake 6-0, 6-0.
Elissa Bashleben, Alex Burleigh and Jenny Arnfelt competed in the Twins Flight (the third flight). Arnfelt made her Gustavus debut in grand fashion as she won the flight with a record of 4-0. She defeated Stacy Endl of UW-Green Bay 6-0, 6-1 in the first round, Meg Gregory of UW-Green Bay 6-2, 6-0 in the second round, teammate Alex Burleigh 6-3, 6-0 in the semifinals and Megan Steiger of the University of Minnesota 6-3, 6-1 in the championship match. Alex Burleigh also had a great first appearance as she finished third in the flight. She defeated Jenny Sondreal of South Dakota State 5-7, 6-2, 6-0 in the first round, Jenna Tellefsen of the University of Minnesota 6-1, 6-3 in the second round, lost to Jenny Arnfelt in the semifinals and defeated Amy Meissner of UW-Green Bay 6-3, 6-3 in the third place match. Elissa Bashleben posted a record of 2-1 with wins over Hilary Green of South Dakota State 6-0, 6-0 and Shelby Rohrer of the University of Minnesota 6-2, 6-4.
In doubles play, Palen and Menne posted a record of 2-1 and finished third in the Wild Flight (the first flight). The duo defeated Malmberg and Mousseau of the University of Minnesota 8-3 in the third place match. Hom and Smiley finished with a 2-1 record and won the consolation title of the first flight. White and Gaard posted a record of 1-2 in the Wild Flight.
Arnfelt and Burleigh teamed up to post a record of 2-1 and finish third in the Lynx Flight (the second flight). The first year duo defeated Harding and Gregory of UW-Green Bay 8-7 (7-3) in the tiebreaker in the third place match. Bashleben and Frericks also had a successful run in the Lynx Flight losing to Harding and Gregory of UW-Green Bay 9-8 (7-3 in the tiebreaker), but then defeating Steiger and Endl (UWGB) 8-3 and Thomas and Rippy of Drake 8-2.
The Gusties will now take part in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Midwest Regional this Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa.