Third spring tennis triumph for Central women
Central Dutch Athletics
PELLA—Three matches into the spring season, the Central College women’s tennis team has not lost a step from last fall’s success by besting Northwestern College 7-2 inside H.S. Kuyper Fieldhouse on Saturday morning.
Central is now 11-2 on the season and 3-0 this spring while the Red Raiders fell to 3-9.
“We’ve played Northwestern forever and had some success,” coach Ryun Ferrell said. “We grinded them down and took care of business.”
In doubles action, Kari Grindberg (senior, Fort Dodge) and Karleigh Schilling (freshman, Swisher, Prairie HS) came out on top 8-2 at No. 1. Senior Ashley Maley (Waverly, Waverly-Shell Rock HS) and Madison Krumm (sophomore, Kellogg, Grinnell HS) gave Central a 2-1 doubles lead with an 8-3 victory at No. 2
Kirsten Jordan (junior, Clear Lake) overcame an auspicious start at No. 5 singles to win 6-3, 6-1. Jordan was the Flight C champion at the Iowa Conference individual tournament.
“She lost the first three games and then won 12 of the next 13,” Ferrell said. “She’s starting to find her rhythm again which is nice because we’re going to need her.”
Jordan and Laurynn Mize (freshman, Sycamore, Ill.) are new faces to the varsity singles lineup this spring. EmmaGrace Walter (junior, Johnston) and Paige Vannausdle (senior, Red Oak) were featured in the fall but Walter is preparing to graduate early and enter graduate school while Vannausdle is student teaching. Mize won 6-1, 6-2 against Northwestern at No. 6
“It’s an opportunity to show their stuff,” Ferrell said. “I’m hoping they can get even more experience. We’ve got a plan going forward to get them where they need to be.”
Grindberg was victorious at No. 2 singles 6-4, 6-2 and Schilling won 7-5, 6-1 at No. 3. Junior Jenna Stewart (Burlington, Notre Dame HS) topped her opponent 6-4, 6-3 at No. 4 singles.
The Dutch have two weeks until their next match on April 7 against Grinnell College.
“It’ll be good to work on some things in practice,” Ferrell said.
