The Gustavus Adolphus women’s tennis team moved its record to 20-4 overall and 6-0 in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference with a 7-2 win over the College of Saint Benedict Monday in St. Peter. Tara Houlihan, Lyndsey Palen, Marla Menne and Jaime Gaard each posted a pair of wins for the Gusties, who handed the Blazers (15-2, 7-1 MIAC) their first league loss.
Gustavus posted wins in two of three doubles matches with Houlihan (Sr., Sioux Falls, S.D.) and Palen (Sr., Rochester, Minn.) moved their record to 14-1 with a 8-2 win over Megan Tiegs and Katie Ward at No. 1 singles. Gaard (Jr., Edina, Minn.) and Menne (Sr., White Bear Lake, Minn.) teamed up for the first time this season and recorded a 8-2 win over Alex Gruska and Melissa Kampa at No. 2 doubles. The Blazers picked up their first point of the match at No. 3 doubles as Angela Sigl and Megan Wrobel downed Darcy Haubrick (Jr., Elk River, Minn.) and Alex Burleigh (So., Verona, Wis.), 8-5.
In singles, Houlihan and Tiegs battled to a third set at No. 1 singles before the Gustie senior prevailed 4-6, 6-2, 10-7. Palen and Gaard dropped only three games combined while picking up wins at No. 2 and No.3 singles, respectively. At No. 4 singles, Menne was forced into a third set after taking the first set and getting shut out in the second set, but rebounded nicely to post the 6-4, 0-6, 10-4 win. Haubrick earned a split on the day with a 6-1, 6-4 straight set win over Kampa at No. 5 singles. The Blazers picked their second point of the match as Wrobel picked up her second win of the match with a 6-3, 4-6, 10-5 win over Burleigh.
Gustavus will close out its regular season schedule this weekend with league matches against Carleton (Saturday), St. Kate’s and Hamline (both Sunday). The Gusties will face St. Olaf in Northfield Monday afternoon in the final match before the MIAC Women’s Tennis Championships, which Gustavus will host April 28-29.