The Gustavus women’s tennis team won the NCAA Central Sub-Regional last weekend and will advance to the NCAA Division III Team Championship finals May 12-14 in Memphis, Tennessee. This will be the Gusties 16th consecutive appearance in the NCAA team finals. Gustavus, the #4 seed in the eight team finals, will face Washington & Lee University on Wednesday, May 12. The Gusties won the NCAA Team Championship in 1990.
In addition to the team’s appearance, Gustavus will have two individuals and two doubles teams competing in the NCAA Division III Individual Championships May 15-17 in Memphis, Tennessee. Lauren Hom (First-year, Stevens Point, Wisc.) and Tara Houlihan (Sophomore, Sioux Falls, S. Dak.) have been selected for the singles competition. Hom has a record of 25-3 in singles play this season and was named the Division III Central Region Rookie of the Year by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA). Houlihan has a record of 16-5 in singles play this season and was named the Division III Central Region Player to Watch by the ITA.
In doubles, the team of Lyndsey Palen (Sophomore, Rochester, Minn.) and Tara Houlihan has compiled a season record of 17-7 and has been selected to compete in the doubles championship. The team of Kara Smiley (Junior, Bovey, Minn.) and Lauren Hom has also been selected to compete in the doubles championship. Hom and Smiley posted a record of 26-4 this season.
The Gusties probable line-up for the tournament will be:
Singles
1. Tara Houlihan (Sophomore, Sioux Falls, S. Dak.)
2. Lauren Hom (First-year, Stevens Point, Wisc.)
3. Lyndsey Palen (Sophomore, Rochester, Minn.)
4. Marla Menne (Sophomore, White Bear Lake, Minn.)
5. Jaime Gaard (First-year, Edina, Minn.)
6. Kara Smiley (Junior, Bovey, Minn.)
Doubles
1. Tara Houlihan/ Lyndsey Palen
2. Lauren Hom/Kara Smiley
3. Marla Menne/Jaime Gaard