ANDREW NOSTVICK SPORTS EDITOR
The Wartburg women’s tennis team finished in third place at the Iowa Conference team tournament in Iowa City on Saturday.
The Knights defeated Cornell College to clinch third place 5-2.
“I’m thrilled with it,” Knights head coach Matthew Tyler said. “The girls competed really hard and I think it bodes really well for Wartburg tennis. A third place finish is fantastic.”
In doubles, Emily Heying and Lindsay Greiner won 8-1, while Leanna Jenkins and Jenny Dallenbach topped their opponents 8-3.
In singles competition, top-seeded Molly Eslick won her match 6-0 and 6-1. Jenkins won the second singles match for the team as she defeated Devin Harmon 6-4 and 6-4.
After a three set loss by Lindsay Greiner, Dallenbach clinched third place for the team, winning 6-1 and 6-4.
“Cornell’s tough, they have some great players,” Tyler said. “I knew going in it was going to be a battle.”
The Knights lost in the semifinals to eventual champion Luther College, 5-0.
In doubles, Eslick and Nelson lost, 8-5. Heying and Greiner also lost, 8-3. Finally, Jenkins and Dallenbach lost, 8-4.
“We didn’t quite come out as ready to go as I would have liked,” Tyler said. “Losing to the team that wins the entire championship is a little consolation for us, but I think in the years to come we’ll definitely push that team and hopefully get some wins over them too.”
Both Dallenbach and Jenkins lost the final two matches in singles to clinch the match for Luther.
Dallenbach lost in three sets 1-6, 6-3 and 1-0 (10-6). Jenkins lost 6-4 and 6-0.
The Knights started out the tournament with a 5-0 victory over Loras College.
The doubles team for the Knights all kicked off the match with victories. Eslick and Nelson won, 8-4.
Heying and Greiner defeted their Duhawk opponents 8-3. Finally, Jenkins and Dallenbach won their match, 8-5.
Tyler said the Knights worked tirelessly on doubles, adding that it gives the team confidence going into the singles matches.
“We’ve been able to come out really strong in the doubles,” Tyler said. “Getting the doubles points is absolutely critical to success.”
Eslick and Nelson provided the final two victories to clinch the Knights’ spot in the semifinals. Eslick dwon 6-0 and 6-0.
Nelson won her match in three sets. She won her match 4-6, 6-3 and 1-0 (10-6).
Greiner and Jenkins were both leading their matches when Nelson clinched.
“It sort of sends the message that Wartburg Tennis is on the way and we’re going to continue to fight and work hard and hopefully bring some good recruits in and push for first and second place in the future,” Tyler said.
This weekend, the Knights head down to Cedar Rapids for the Iowa Conference Individual Championship.