The Gustavus women’s tennis team finished in sixth place at the 2011 ITA Indoor Championship held over the weekend in the Swanson Tennis Center on the campus of Gustavus Adolphus College. Gustavus defeated DePauw University 6-3 in the morning before falling 6-3 to Washington and Lee University in the fifth place match later in the night. After going 1-2 at the ITA Indoors, the Gustavus women’s tennis teams moves to 4-4 overall on the season.
The Gusties were clicking early in the morning against DePauw, sweeping the doubles competition 3-0. Alex Erickson and Julie Bardenwerper defeated Elizabeth Young and Meg Crowley 8-4 at #3, Megan Born and Marianne Barau beat Tricia Wilks and Lizzy Whitlatch 8-4 at #2, and Megan Gaard and Sam Frank topped Janelle Arita and Kelly Gebert 8-5 at #1.
Erickson put Gustavus up 4-0 with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Crowley at #4 singles, and Marianne Barau gave the Gusties the decision with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Tricia Wilks at #3 singles. Mary Roop recorded Gustavus’ last victory at #5 singles, defeating Katie Regan 7-5, 7-5.
Gustavus was on the opposite side of the spectrum in its fifth place match with Washington and Lee, going down 3-0 after the Generals swept doubles. The Gusties cut the lead to 3-2 when Barau made short work of Jen Snyder 6-2, 6-2, at #3 singles, and Sam Frank came back down one set to win 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 at #1. Washington and Lee earned the decision in the next two matches with wins at #2 and #5 singles. Erickson tallied Gustavus’ other win 2-6, 7-5, 1-0 (10-6) at #4.
The Gustavus women’s tennis team will begin a four-game home-stand with a pair of matches against UW-Whitewater and Augustana (S.D) on Saturday, March 12. The Gusties will take on UW-Whitewater at 8:30 a.m. and Augustana at 1:00 p.m.