MORRIS, Minn. – With the UMAC Women's Tennis regular season coming to a conclusion this week, it's time for those looking to make a playoff push to lock in and play their best tennis of the season. The stakes are especially big for the University of Northwestern Women's Tennis team, as its two remaining conference games are against the two teams standing between it and a berth in the UMAC Semifinals next weekend.
To paint the picture, Northwestern and Minnesota Morris both entered Thursday with matching 2-1 conference records. Martin Luther sat just ahead of them at 3-1. UNW's path to the playoffs was clear: win both matches and the Eagles are dancing. Step one of that process was completed Thursday, as Northwestern dismantled Morris, 9-0.
Elise Jarchow (Luverne, Minn./Luverne) and
Analise Marquardt (Parkers Prairie, Minn./Parkers Prairie), the two newest members of UNW's 100 wins club, got the party started with a convincing 8-1 win at #2 doubles.
Abigail Ross (Chico, Calif./Central) and
Rayna Baumgarn (Holmen, Wis./Holmen) followed suit with an 8-2 win in the #3 match, then the #1 team of
Annie Orvis (Rochester, Minn/Schaeffer Academy) and
Abby Johnson (Zimmerman, Minn./Homeschool) completed the doubles trifecta with an 8-5 victory. Northwestern was in the driver's seat as it headed into singles play with a 3-0 advantage.
Despite the big lead, UNW kept its foot on the gas as singles matches began. Baumgarn picked up a 6-0, 6-0 sweep at #6 singles, then Marquardt cruised to a 6-1, 6-2 win in the #4 match to officially clinch the team win. There was no letting up for the purple and gold, though, as Orvis won 6-4, 6-1 at #1 singles and Jarchow took the #3 match 6-4, 6-3. Ross continued to play well in her return to the lineup, earning a 6-4, 6-4 win at #5, then Johnson completed the 9-0 sweep with a 7-6 (7-0), 7-6 (7-1) victory at #2 singles.
The 16-10 Eagles will put their season on the line Saturday at Martin Luther, where the winner will earn the North Division #2 seed in the upcoming UMAC Women's Tennis Tournament. UNW and MLC did square off once already this season in non-conference competition, resulting in a 9-0 home win for the Eagles. Play is scheduled to begin at 11:00 AM Saturday in New Ulm.
