Central women’s tennis team bounces back to earn victory

Central College

PELLA — After a tough loss Friday night, the Central College women’s tennis team regrouped and took a 7-2 decision over Morningside College Saturday.

Less than 14 hours after dropping a 9-0 decision to Iowa Conference favorite Coe College, the Dutch started play against Morningside.

“The team really responded well, and they played tough,” coach Ryun Ferrell said. “They kept the ball in play. We just slowed down a little and made more shots. We weren’t trying to play bigger than that we were.”

The 2013 all-Iowa Conference doubles tandem of Angie Allgood (junior, Muscatine) and Megan Davis (junior, Littleton, Colo., Valor Christian HS) opened with an 8-4 victory at number one doubles. Allgood and Davis were also victorious in singles winning by 6-3, 6-2 and 6-3, 6-4 decisions, at the number one and two spots respectively.

Ferrell plugged two freshmen into the lineup and they did not disappoint. Kari Grindberg (freshman, Fort Dodge) took a hard-fought victory at number five singles 7-5, 6-2 over Morningside’s Megan Carlson. Ashley Maley (freshman, Waverly, Waverly-Shell Rock HS) dominated at number six, defeating Natasha Hongersmeier. 6-1, 6-0.

“I thought they responded very, very well,” Ferrell said. “They played like they were juniors and seniors. That’s nice to see young ones do that, it makes you excited about the future.”

The Dutch will return to action next Saturday, when Buena Vista makes a trip to Pella for 9 a.m. match at the A.N. Kuyper Athletics Complex courts.