PELLA, Iowa – The University of Northwestern Women's Tennis team saw plenty of windshield time on Saturday, but also saw a pair of wins in the process. The matches in both Pella and Des Moines were both moved indoors due to inclement weather, but the Eagles were able to bring 9-0 and 5-4 wins versus American Rivers Conference opponents back to Minnesota.
Match One: Simpson College Storm
Northwestern's day began early with an 8:45 AM tilt with Simpson College at Drake University's indoor courts in Des Moines. Despite the early wake up call, the Eagles were locked in from the jump.
Abigail Ross (Chico, Calif./Central) and
Rayna Baumgarn (Holmen, Wis./Holmen) cruised to an 8-0 win at three doubles to get things started.
Elise Jarchow (Luverne, Minn./Luverne) and
Analise Marquardt (Parkers Prairie, Minn./Parkers Prairie) were next off with an 8-4 win at two doubles, followed shortly by
Annie Orvis (Rochester, Minn/Schaeffer Academy) and
Abby Johnson (Zimmerman, Minn./Homeschool), who were 8-2 victors at one doubles.
The momentum bled over into singles matches, as Baumgarn and Marquardt turned in efficient 6-0, 6-0 wins at #6 and #4 singles, respectively. Ross nearly matched her teammates in her #5 singles match, winning 6-0, 6-1. Jarchow picked up a 6-3, 6-2 win in the #3 spot, while Johnson took care of business at #2 singles, winning 6-2, 6-3. Orvis closed out the sweep with a 6-2, 6-4 victory at #1 singles.
Match Two: Central College Dutch
The afternoon match against Central College in Pella, Iowa presented a bit more of a challenge for the Eagles, but nothing they weren't capable of overcoming. The match began strong as
Annie Orvis (Rochester, Minn/Schaeffer Academy) and
Abby Johnson (Zimmerman, Minn./Homeschool) put together a great performance at #1 doubles en route to an 8-1 win.
Elise Jarchow (Luverne, Minn./Luverne) and
Analise Marquardt (Parkers Prairie, Minn./Parkers Prairie) dropped their #2 doubles match 4-8, but
Abigail Ross (Chico, Calif./Central) and
Rayna Baumgarn (Holmen, Wis./Holmen) won an 8-7 thriller at #3 doubles to put UNW ahead 2-1. That win turned out to be crucial as the day progressed.
The teams continued to trade blows like heavyweights as singles play began. Jarchow fell 2-6, 1-6 at three singles before Marquardt put Northwestern back in front with a 6-2, 6-4 win in the four spot. Johnson gave one back at two singles by a 6-2, 1-6, 6-10 score, then Central drew even in the six singles match when
Rayna Baumgarn (Holmen, Wis./Holmen) was defeated 1-6, 6-0, 7-10. Suddenly, it all came down to the five singles match and freshman
Abigail Ross (Chico, Calif./Central). The rookie rose to the occasion, taking the match 6-3, 7-6 (10-8) to give UNW a 5-4 win and a sweep of its ARC opponents in Iowa.
The 9-5 Eagles will put their six-game winning streak on the line Friday, April 5
th at Crown College in their first conference match of the year. Stay tuned to unweagles.com for more coverage.
