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The UIU women’s tennis team traveled to Western Illinois University (Division I) for three matches this past weekend. The Peacocks were defeated by the Bulldogs, the host school, in the first match, 6-0, but bounced back on Friday afternoon for their first win of the spring season and their first win over a Division II school since moving up a level.
The Peacocks took to the courts for their doubles matches versus the Riverwomen of Missouri-St. Louis, a member of the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Kasey Huisman and Erin Kelley paired up and won their match 8-6, while Kelsey Montgomery and Mallery Cox worked together to also win 8-6. Shelby Lilly and Katie Rodewald combined to complete the doubles’ sweep for the team as they were victorious 8-1. As play moved to singles competition, the Peacocks needed only two more wins to secure their first win of the season. Upper Iowa was able to come out on top in three of the six matches. Kasey Huisman won her match in three sets 6-3, 6-7, 10-4. Kelsey Montgomery won her match 6-3, 6-1, while Faith Atherton was victorious 6-0, 4-6, 10-6. Mallery Cox was defeated 7-5, 6-0, Erin Kelley lost 6-2, 6-3, and Shelby Lilly fell 6-1, 6-0. Head Coach Chad Fenwick said, “I was really excited about gaining not only our first win of the season, but our first win against a DII opponent. The ladies have worked very hard and have come close in previous matches this fall against Lewis, as well as East Stroudsburg and Ashland over spring break. I’m hopeful that getting our first DII victory the week before starting our conference matches will give us the confidence and the momentum to have a successful conference season.” The Peacocks were able to pick up their second win in a rain shortened match versus the Queen Bees of St. Ambrose. The Peacocks swept through the doubles matches. Huisman and Kelley won 8-2; Montgomery and Cox won 8-4; and Atherton and Molly Klocke combined for a 9-7 win. The only two singles matches that were completed were the #1 and #2 matches. Huisman was victorious 7-6 (7-2), 6-1, while Montgomery won 6-0, 6-2. “I was also very pleased with our results against a traditionally strong NAIA tennis program in St. Ambrose. I’m proud of the way that this young group has continued to compete this season. We have had a number of tough matches this season, playing as many DI schools as we have. With such a young team, 7 of our top 8 players being freshman, I felt it was important to expose the group to as many tough matches as possible,” said the head coach. Fenwick continued, “By playing so many strong teams to this point, I feel this young group will acclimate to the collegiate tennis game faster and give us the opportunity to play like a much more experienced team by the time we start competing against other NSIC teams this spring.” The Peacocks will travel to Southwest Minnesota State this weekend for their first NSIC competition of the season. The matches are set to begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Mar. 31. Upper Iowa will also face off with the University of South Dakota while in Marshall, Minnesota this Saturday at 1 p.m. |
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