RIPON, Wis. (SabreAthletics.com) – The Marian University women's tennis team fell in a close battle to nearby rival, Ripon College, 5-4, in the season opener at Larson Tennis Courts this afternoon, Aug. 31. The Sabres will look to bounce back tomorrow with home matches against Northern Athletics Conference foes, Edgewood and Rockford.
A pair of close decisions favored the outcome for the Red Hawks as they took a hotly-contested three-set match in #1 singles and narrow victory in #2 doubles on the way to a 5-4 team victory.
The Sabres fall to 0-1 on the season, while Ripon improves to 1-0.
In singles, Reilly Connaher, Brynn Hartzell and Chelsey Will earned convincing straight sets victories at #2, #3 and #4 singles, respectively. At #1 singles, Ann Goyke met her match. She fell in the first set 6-0, but battled back to take the second set tie-breaker, 7-6. The third set then played to a 10-6 tie-breaker in favor of her opponent, Brittany Sullivan.
In doubles, the #1 pairing of Goyke/Connaher took a 9-7 decision, but Ripon found a way ttriumph in the second and third doubles matches, including a, 9-7, win by Olivia Wetzel/Alison Thies over Marian pair Hartzell/Will.
The Sabres take on Edgewood in the conference and home opener at 10 a.m. tomorrow followed by a dual with Rockford at 2 p.m.
Box Score
Ripon College 5, Marian University 4
08/31/12 at RIPON, Wis. (Larson Courts)
| Singles competition |
| 1. Brittany Sullivan (RIPON) def. Goyke, Ann (MU) 6-0, 6-7 (0-4), 10-6 |
| 2. Connaher, Reilly (MU) def. Ellie Hedberg (RIPON) 6-0, 6-0 |
| 3. Hartzell, Brynn (MU) def. Katie Majerowski (RIPON) 6-0, 6-1 |
| 4. Will, Chelsey (MU) def. Elizabeth Ake (RIPON) 6-1, 6-1 |
| 5. Olivia Wetzel (RIPON) def. Brooker, Sarah (MU) 6-0, 6-0 |
| 6. Alison Thies (RIPON) def. Stoffel, Rachell (MU) 6-3, 7-5 |
| Doubles competition |
| 1. Goyke, Ann/Connaher, Reilly (MU) def. Ellie Hedberg/Brittany Sullivan (RIPON) 9-7 |
| 2. Olivia Wetzel/Alison Thies (RIPON) def. Hartzell, Brynn/Will, Chelsey (MU) 9-7 |
| 3. Katie Majerowski/Elizabeth Ake (RIPON) def. Brooker, Sarah/Stoffel, Rachell (MU) 8-3 |
| Match Notes |
| Marian University 0-1 |
| Ripon College 1-0 |
| T-3:05 A-21 |
