LA CROSSE, Wis. – The University of Northwestern Women's Tennis team put its seven-match winning streak on the line Saturday in Wisconsin, squaring off with a pair of non-conference foes. Unfortunately for
Matt Swigart's squad, that streak came to a conclusion as the Eagles dropped both contests. Wartburg edged out UNW by a 5-4 margin before UW-La Crosse, the host of the triangular, defended its home court with a 9-0 sweep.
Match One: Wartburg College Knights
In a match that saw both squads go back and forth all afternoon, Wartburg drew first blood with an 8-6 win at #1 doubles over
Annie Orvis (Rochester, Minn/Schaeffer Academy) and
Abby Johnson (Zimmerman, Minn./Homeschool). The Eagles, however, fought back to take the lead heading into singles play.
Elise Jarchow (Luverne, Minn./Luverne) and
Analise Marquardt (Parkers Prairie, Minn./Parkers Prairie) earned a hard-fought 8-7 (7-2) win at #2 doubles, while
Abigail Ross (Chico, Calif./Central) and
Rayna Baumgarn (Holmen, Wis./Holmen) won an even tighter match at #3 doubles, 8-7 (9-7).
Northwestern kept the momentum going as singles matches began via a 6-3, 6-2 Ross win at #5 singles. Unfortunately for the Eagles, Wartburg stole the momentum back from that point on. Johnson suffered a 4-6, 1-6 loss at #2 singles, then Jarchow fell by a 6-1, 3-6, 7-10 score in the #3 spot. Suddenly, the match was tied with three matches to go. The Knights took the lead after the #1 singles match, where Orvis fell 6-7 (5-7), 1-6, then clinched the win with a 0-6, 6-3, 10-4 win over Marquardt at #4 singles. UNW did get one back at #6 singles thanks to a 6-4, 6-4 win out of Baumgarn, but it was too little, too late as Wartburg ended the Eagles' hot streak with a 5-4 win.
Match Two: University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Eagles
After a close loss earlier in the afternoon, UNW hoped to get back on track against a tough UW-La Crosse team. Unfortunately, the encore match was not nearly as close.
Annie Orvis (Rochester, Minn/Schaeffer Academy) and
Abby Johnson (Zimmerman, Minn./Homeschool) (#1 doubles), as well as
Elise Jarchow (Luverne, Minn./Luverne) and
Analise Marquardt (Parkers Prairie, Minn./Parkers Prairie) (#2 doubles) both took 3-8 losses.
Abigail Ross (Chico, Calif./Central) and
Rayna Baumgarn (Holmen, Wis./Holmen) took their opponents to the wire at #3 doubles, but ultimately fell 7-8 (5-7), giving UWL a 3-0 lead entering singles matches.
Wisconsin's version of the Eagles did not relent once singles play had begun. Marquardt was swept 6-0, 6-0 at #4 singles, and Johnson fell 1-6, 1-6 in the #2 slot. Orvis was defeated 0-6, 1-6 at #1 singles right before Ross suffered a 0-6, 0-6 defeat herself at #5 singles. Jarchow's #3 singles match didn't go her way either as she lost 0-6, 3-6. The final match of the day went UWL's way as well, as Baumgarn fell 3-6, 1-6 at #6 singles. UW-La Crosse improved to 16-4 on the season with the sweep, while Northwestern fell to 10-7.
Next Up
For the local fans wanting to check out this year's Eagles, you will get the chance on Thursday, April 3
rd when UNW hosts a pair of matches. First up will be the Hamline Pipers at 1:00 PM, then Northwestern will take on UMAC foe Martin Luther in a non-conference match at 7:00 PM. Come on out and support your Eagles in their home opener!
