MADISON, Wis. – The 2011 Women’s Tennis Championships wrapped up on Sunday afternoon at the Nielsen Tennis Center with Grinnell and Lawrence picking up singles champions in the six flights. Grinnell was a winner in the No. 2, 3, 5 and 6 flights while Lawrence was on top in the No. 1 and 4 flights.
After winning the No. 1 doubles title last night Beth Larson added to her medal collection with a win in the No. 1 singles flight. She defeated Megan Funk of Knox 6-1, 6-0 in the quarterfinals and then notched a 6-2, 6-0 semifinal victory over Grinnell’s Sadhana Athreya. Larson then finished the night with an impressive 6-3, 6-2 win over Abigail Pellett (Carroll) to complete a successful individual weekend.
Constanza Alarcon also picked up another medal during singles competition, winning the No. 2 flight. She defeated Tessa Ginn (Monmouth) 6-0, 6-1 to open up play and earned a trip to the finals with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Gracie Mullins (Lake Forest). In the finals match she fell behind after the first set to Nancy Chybowski 5-7 before running off the next two sets 6-2 and 6-3 to claim the championship.
Grinnell earned a gold medal in the No. 3 flight as Shirlene Luk took three sets to defeat Knox’s Charlotte Garvin 7-5, 3-6, 7-5 in one of the best matches of the day. En route to the championship she defeated Kate Rasmussen (Carroll; 2-6, 6-1, 6-0) in the quarterfinals and Callie Schroeder (St. Norbert; 6-2, 6-0) in the semifinals.
Lawrence earned a second medal when Christina Schaupp downed Grinnell’s Clothilde Thirouin 6-2, 6-3 in the championship round of the No. 4 flight. Schaupp was nearly perfect in her quarterfinal and semifinal matches as she earned a 6-0, 6-0 victory against Kortney Rupp (Monmouth) and a 6-0, 6-4 victory against Ariel Bloniarz (St. Norbert).
Hanna Feldman was the second champion of the day for Grinnell and ousted Lawrence’s Hannah Geoffrey in a thrilling match in the No. 5 flight. Feldman began the day with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Beloit’s Emma Beck and then breezed by Ripon’s Elizabeth Ake 6-1, 6-0. After dropping the first set against Geoffrey 7-5 Feldman ran off the next two sets 6-2 and 6-4 to capture the championship.
Toby Cain took home a gold medal in the No. 6 singles finals with a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Kate Wiseman of Carroll. Cain was never in trouble in any of her three matches defeating Knox’s Emily Tyl 6-2, 6-0 in the quarterfinals before defeating St. Norbert’s Maria Slusarek in the semifinals 6-2, 6-2.
Beloit was also recognized for their sportsmanship all season, and in the tournament, receiving the team Sportsmanship Award for the 2011 season. Grinnell Head Coach Andy Hamilton and Beloit Head Coach Bob Hodge were also named 2011 Midwest Conference Women’s Tennis Coaches of the Year. Both of the awards were voted on by the member coaches at this weekend’s championship.
Team Standings
1.Grinnell – 96
2.St. Norbert – 60
T3.Lawrence – 66
T3.Lake Forest – 24
5.Carroll – 45
6.Knox – 25
7.Beloit – 17
8.Ripon – 12
9.Monmouth – 0
Hannah Feldman talks about winning the No. 5 Singles Flight:
Co-Coach of the Year Bob Hodge talks about his 28 year coaching career at Beloit. Hodge retired as the Women's Tennis coach at Beloit after the championship weekend.