Megan Gaard Named MIAC Women's Tennis Athlete-of-the-Week. Banner art courtesy of Dan Coquyt - Gustavus Sports Information. Photo courtesy of Sport PIX.
St. Paul, Minn. – Gustavus Adolphus senior women’s tennis player Megan Gaard (Edina, Minn.) has been named the MIAC Women’s Tennis Athlete-of-the-Week for her efforts in Gustavus’ back-to-back 9-0 wins over Saint Benedict and St. Thomas this week.
Gaard kicked off the week with an 8-0 win over Saint Ben’s Aly Brandell and Sarah Rossman alongside partner Laurel Krebsbach (North Oaks, Minn.) at No. 1 doubles. She then went on to defeat Lauren Jones 6-1, 6-2 at No. 2 singles, as Gustavus tallied its third MIAC sweep of the season.
The senior Edina, Minn. product’s win in doubles on Wednesday at St. Joseph set up what was a milestone win on Saturday in St. Peter. Joining Krebsbach once again at No. 1 doubles, the duo cruised to an 8-2 victory over St. Thomas’ Mary Allen and Kara Lefsrud. With the victory, Megan Gaard earned her 100th career win in doubles play, joining a club occupied by just two players since the new millennium. In a credit to the prowess of Gustavus women’s tennis, and to her ability to make an impact upon arrival to campus, captain Megan Gaard joins the likes of Sierra Krebsbach `10 (105-31) and Samantha Frank `11 (101-40), both of which were her teammates in the late 2000’s. The three-time All-Conference performer is now 100-36 (.735) in doubles over her career.
Gaard later picked up a 6-1, 6-0 win at No. 2 singles to assist in Gustavus sweep of the Tommies. Megan is currently 12-11 in singles and 19-10 in doubles on the season. She is 16-8 in doubles while playing with Laurel Krebsbach and needs just one more doubles victory to reach the 20-win mark for the fourth consecutive season.
With just three matches left in the 2012 regular season, Gustavus is 14-7 overall and is locked alongside Carleton at the top of the MIAC standings with a mark of 7-0. The Gusties will take on St. Olaf on Thursday, April 26 at 4:30 p.m. in St. Peter, and Bethel on Saturday, April 28 at 9:30 a.m. in St. Paul. A pair of Gustavus wins against the Oles and Royals would solidify a showdown with an MIAC Championship on the line on Sunday, April 29 at 11:00 a.m. in St. Peter, Minn. The Knights are currently 15-5 overall and 9-0 in the MIAC.