Women's Tennis Wins KCAC Tournament Crown, 5-0, Over Southwestern

TOPEKA, Kan. (macbulldogs.com) --- The No. 23-ranked and top-seeded McPherson College women's tennis team punched its ticket to the 2017 NAIA Women's Tennis National Championship with a 5-0 win over second-seeded Southwestern College in the championship match of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) women's tennis tournament Saturday morning at Genesis-Wood Valley Racquet Club.

The Bulldogs (9-2) jumped out to a 3-0 lead with a sweep of doubles. Deiah Curtis (Great Bend, Kan., Bethany College) and Madison Hoffman (McPherson, Kan., McPherson HS) took the first point with an 8-3 win over Savannah Caro and Sadie Pfau at No. 3 doubles. Lea Striegel (Emmendingen, Germany, Albert-Schweitzer Gymnasium) and Zoë Bouwmeester (Zutphen, Netherlands, Isendoorn College) followed with an 8-5 victory over Morgan Hughes and Anna Mankoski at No. 2, while Besa Bwalya (Hoisington, Kan., Hoisington HS) and Brittany Zipf (Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia, Emmaus College) scored an 8-6 win over Sydney Shields and Olivia Medaris to complete the sweep.

Moving to singles, Zipf moved McPherson to within a point of the title with a 6-0, 6-1 win over Hughes at the No. 1 spot. Bwayla clinched the crown with a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Medaris.

Striegel was down a set at No.3 when the match concluded. The matches at Nos. 4, 5 and 6 singles were left unfinished.

"I couldn't be more proud of both teams," said head coach Dustin Wheeler. "They work extremely hard on and off the court and they do it as a team! I grew up in a small family and a small town. Being able to coach these great kids from all over the world is a blessing and I'll always be thankful for this opportunity. LET'S GO BULLDOGS!"

With the victory, McPherson receives the KCAC's automatic berth to the NAIA Women's Tennis National Championship slated for May 16-20 at the Mobile Tennis Center in Mobile, Alabama. It will be the fourth consecutive (and fourth overall) trip for the Bulldogs. The full list of qualifiers for the national meet will be released Monday, May 8, with the seeds and bracket to follow on Tuesday, May 9.
 

McPherson College Tennis
(2) Southwestern College vs (1) McPherson College (Apr 29, 2017)

#23 (1) McPherson College 5, (2) Southwestern College 0
Apr 29, 2017 at Topeka, Kan. (Genesis-Wood Valley) 
 

Doubles competition

1. Brittany Zipf/Besa Bwalya (MCPH) def. Sydney Shields/Olivia Medaris (SWC) 8-6

2. Lea Striegel/Zoe Bouwmeester (MCPH) def. Morgan Hughes/Anna Mankoski (SWC) 8-5

3. Deiah Curtis/Madison Hoffman (MCPH) def. Savannah Caro/Sadie Pfau (SWC) 8-3

 

Singles competition

1. Brittany Zipf (MCPH) def. Morgan Hughes (SWC) 6-0, 6-1

2. Besa Bwalya (MCPH) def. Olivia Medaris (SWC) 6-1, 6-3

3. Lea Striegel (MCPH) vs. Anna Mankoski (SWC) 0-6, 3-4, unfinished

4. Zoe Bouwmeester (MCPH) vs. Abbi Groff (SWC) unfinished

5. Madison Hoffman (MCPH) vs. Jerlecia Thompson (SWC) unfinished

6. Deiah Curtis (MCPH) vs. Taylor Crawford (SWC) unfinished

 

Match Notes

(2) Southwestern College 17-5

(1) McPherson College 9-2; National ranking #23

Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (1,2)

KCAC Women's Tennis Championship

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