Dutch roll in women’s tennis season opener

PELLA — Giving 10 different players action in its season debut, the Central College women’s tennis team took down Monmouth College (Ill.) 6-3 Saturday morning.

Central’s lineup featured seven returners but also three freshmen, Lauren Gano (Johnston), Ellie Sackett (Des Moines, Dowling Catholic HS) and Emma Murphy (Liberty, Mo.), making their Central debut. The Dutch were missing last spring’s No. 2 singles player and half of its No. 1 doubles team, Madi Whalen (sophomore, Kansas City, Mo. Park Hill HS), due to a class field trip.

It was nice to get to play people,” coach Ryun Ferrell said. “We had a nice presence of both veterans and newcomers. When Madi gets back she’ll be in the lineup.”

Jennifer Larson (junior, Johnston) started Central’s single lineup with a 2-6, 7-5, 10-5 win at No. 1 against an opponent who defeated her last year.

“She found a way to get it done without playing her best tennis,” Ferrell said.

Becca Vala (junior, Omaha, Neb., Elkhorn HS), Murphy and Alli Kreider (senior, Norwalk) rattled off wins at Nos. 4, 5, 6 and in singles. Murphy and Kreider both won 6-0, 6-0 matches.

In doubles, Jenna Hernandez (Slater, Ballard HS) and Sackett won 8-2 at No. 2. Brianna Lindstrom (senior, North Aurora, Ill., West Aurora HS) and Gano won by the same score at No. 3 doubles.

“Overall, it looked like a first match,” Ferrell said. “Monmouth is a very good team at the top of its lineup, we’re just a really deep team.”

Central returns to action on September 5 for a 4 p.m. dual at Nebraska Wesleyan University.