The Gustavus women’s tennis team advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Team Championship on Sunday afternoon, defeating Carthage College 5-2. This will be the 17th consecutive trip to the quarterfinals for the Gusties. The Gusties, 30-2 overall, will play next at Kalamazoo College in Kalamazoo, Michigan on May 18-20. Their opponent is to be determined.
In doubles competition, Gustavus won quickly at the second and third positions to take an early 2-0 lead. Gustavus’ number two doubles team of Lauren Hom and Kara Smiley defeated Amanda Sta. Romana and Alex Jackson 8-2. Gustavus also won the number three doubles match, as Marla Menne and Jenni White defeated Erika Lambros and Brooke Braastad of Carthage by a score of 8-2. The number one doubles team for Carthage of Kelly Mikkila and Elizca Buys, who are rated number three in Division III, defeated Tara Houlian and Lyndsey Palen 9-7, to cut the Gustie lead to 2-1.
In singles play, Gustavus picked up two more points at the number five and six positions, as Jaime Gaard of Gustavus defeated Erin Powers 6-0, 6-0 at the number five, and Marla Menne defeated Erika Lambros 6-1, 6-0 at the number six. Carthage would later cut the lead to 4-2 at the number one position, as Kelly Mikkila defeated Tara Houlihan 6-3, 6-1. Gustavus sophomore Lauren Hom would clinch the 5-2 Gustavus victory by defeating Elizca Buys 6-1, 6-2 at the number two position.