Women’s Tennis Concludes Season With 5-2 Loss To No. 9 Chicago In Second Round of NCAA Championships

Chicago 5, Gustavus 2 (Box)

JANESVILLE, Wis. – The Gustavus Adolphus College women’s tennis team concluded its 2015-16 season Friday, suffering a 5-2 loss to No. 9-ranked University of Chicago in the second round of the NCAA Championships. The Gusties earned two out of three doubles matches before the Maroons were able to win four straight points in singles to clinch the match. Gustavus finishes its season with an overall record of 22-8, its most wins since the 2010 season.

“I’m so unbelievably proud of the team,” said Coach Jon Carlson. “The effort level was off the charts and I truly could not be more proud to be their coach. When you get to this level, every team but one finishes their season with a loss, but more than losing, the most disappointing thing is that we don’t have another day together.”

Gustavus came out of the gates unfazed by its underdog status and earned two of three doubles matches to take a 2-1 lead heading into singles play. Michaela Schulz and Lizzy Stanczyk were first off the court, taking a 8-4 win at the first position, and were followed by Katie Aney and Sid Dirks who earned an identical 8-4 win at the third spot. Ally Baker and Briana Hartmann put up a fight at No. 2, but eventually came up just short in an 8-5 loss.

In singles, the Maroons showed why they are the ninth-ranked team in the nation, grabbing straight set wins at the No. 2, 3, and 4 positions, respectively to take a 4-2 lead.

Rainy weather then descended upon UW-Whitewater’s campus, necessitating a move to indoor courts. After splitting sets, Schulz nearly pulled out an upset at the first spot, as the junior pushed Ariana Iranpour (ranked No. 4 in the nation and No. 2 in the Central Region) to three sets before falling by a final score of 2-6, 7-6 (7-4), 3-6. With the 5-2 team decision in hand, the No. 5 and 6 positions ended as unfinished.

The match also marked the end of the careers of the teams’ three seniors, Dirks, Stanczyk, and Kaity Johnson. Carlson calls the three “some of the best leaders we’ve ever had in the program.”