Top-seeded Kathryn Schmidt (So./Hopkins, Minn.) of Carleton College won the singles title and the duo of Samantha Frank and Sierra Krebsbach (Sr., North Oaks, Minn.) of Gustavus Adolphus College won the doubles title at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA)/Wilson Midwest Regional which was played at Gustavus this past weekend. The Wilson/ITA Midwest Regional at Gustavus featured the top small college tennis players from 19 schools in the states of Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois. As champions of the Midwest Regional, Schmidt, Frank and Krebsbach now advance to the Intercollegiate Tennis Association National Small College Championships which will take place Oct. 15-18 at the Copeland-Cox Tennis Center in Mobile, Alabama.
In the singles draw, Schmidt posted a record of 6-0 on the weekend. On Sunday, she defeated Gustavus’ Ali O’Neal 6-0, 7-5 in the semifinals and then knocked off Gustavus’ Samantha Frank in the championship 6-4, 6-1. She did not drop a set in the tournament.
In the doubles draw, Frank and Krebsbach, the #2 seeds, posted a record of 4-0 on the weekend. They defeated Frances Leung and Bridget Doyle of Carleton 8-2 in the semifinals and then snuck past teammates Megan Gaard and Ali O’Neal in the championship match 8-5.
The ITA National Small College Championships began in 1986 and annually crowns men’s and women’s singles and doubles national champions in each of the ITA’s four small college divisions (NCAA Divisions II and III, NAIA and Junior/Community College). These championships are the only national tournaments for singles and doubles at the NCAA Division II and NAIA level, and the only tournaments that combine all levels of Junior/Community Colleges (NJCAA Divisions I-III, and California Community Colleges).
This is the eighth time in the last 10 years that Gustavus has hosted the ITA/Wilson Midwest Regional Tournament.
Tournament Website
ITA/Wilson Midwest Regional Final Day Results
Singles
Semifinals
Sam Frank, Gustavus defeated Sierra Krebsbach, Gustavus 3-6, 6-4, 6-2
Kathryn Schmidt, Carleton defeated Ali O’Neal, Gustavus 6-0, 7-5
Finals
Kathryn Schmidt, Carleton defeated Sam Frank, Gustavus 6-4, 6-1
Doubles
Semifinals
Megan Gaard/Ali O’Neal, Gustavus defeated Kathryn Schmidt/Erin Gudul, Carleton 8-6
Sam Frank/Sierra Krebsbach, Gustavus defeated Frances Leung and Bridget Doyle, Carleton 8-2
Finals
Sam Frank/Sierra Krebsbach, Gustavus defeated Megan Gaard/Ali O’Neal, Gustavus 8-5