The Gustavus women’s tennis team claimed the 2010 MIAC Playoff Crown with a 5-0 win over St. Olaf in the championship match on Saturday afternoon in St. Peter, Minn. The Gusties defeated Saint Benedict in the semifinals earlier in the day 5-0 to advance finals. Gustavus has now won four consecutive MIAC Playoff Championships, dating back to the start of the playoff system in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in 2007.
In the 5-0 win over Saint Ben’s, Gustavus swept the doubles competition before getting two wins in singles. The pair of Sierra Krebsbach and Sam Frank defeated Kylie Huether and Ally Brandell 8-1 in number one doubles. Marianne Barau and Megan Gaard defeated Elissa Hus and Lauren Jones 8-2 in number two doubles, and Ali O’Neal and Maria Bryan defeated Sarah Rossman and Megan Seipel in three doubles 8-3. Marianne Barau defeated Elissa Husby 6-1, 6-3 in singles, while Alex Erickson beat Megan Seipel 6-0, 6-0.
In the Championship match, Gustavus swept the doubles competition before getting wins from Gaard and Erickson in singles for the 5-0 victory. In doubles, Sierra Krebsbach and Sam Frank defeated Christine Muller and Abigail Ho 8-5, Marianne Barau and Megan Gaard defeated Caitlin Harper and Aimee Ny 8-4, and Ali O’Neal and Maria Bryan defeated Sarah Magnuson and Sarah Carlson 8-2. Both Gaard and Erickson won in straight sets, giving the Gusties the 2010 MIAC Playoff Championship.
The Gusties head into the 2010 NCAA Regional Championships with an overall record of 31-10. It is only the second time in the history of the Gustavus women’s tennis program that a team has hit 30 wins in a season, as the 2005 women’s tennis team finished the season with an overall mark of 30-3.