Women's Tennis Edged by (RV) Southwestern in KCAC Tourney Final

TOPEKA, Kan. (macbulldogs.com) --- The McPherson College women's tennis team saw its quest for a fifth straight trip to nationals halted by a 5-4 loss to top-seeded Southwestern College in the championship final of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) Tournament Saturday afternoon at Kossover Tennis Center.

The Bulldogs (10-3) got off to a great start, winning both of the contested doubles matches. Brittany Zipf (Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia, Emmaus College) and Besa Bwalya (Hoisington, Kan., Hoisington HS) paired for an 8-2 win over Esperanza Contador and Abby Groff on court one, while Zoë Bouwmeester (Zutphen, Netherlands, Isendoorn College) and Deiah Curtis (Great Bend, Kan., Bethany College) defeated Meghan Kindred and Brailey McMinn, 8-4, on court two. Southwestern's Jerlicia Thompson and Anna Mankoski were awarded a forfeit win on court three.

Once play shifted over to singles, Kindred and Thompson received forfeit wins on courts five and six to put the Lady Builders up 3-2.

Bwalya evened the match with a 6-1, 6-3 win over Mankoski on court two, but Southwestern moved back in front with a 6-3, 6-0 win from McMinn over Bouwmeester on court three.

Zipf defeated Contador, 6-3, 6-3, on court one to tie the match at 4-4 and shift all of the focus to the match on court four between Curtis and Groff. Groff emerged with a 6-3, 6-3 win to clinch the title and the KCAC's automatic berth to the NAIA Championships.

Despite having just four players on the roster, the Bulldogs failed to win the majority of contested matches in a dual just once this season - the regular-season matchup against Southwestern - while tying for a fifth-straight KCAC regular-season title. McPherson also lost just one contested doubles match during the dual season.

Southwestern 5, McPherson 4
Apr 28, 2018 at Topeka, Kan. (Kossover Tennis Center) 
 

Singles competition

1. Brittany Zipf (MCPH) def. Esperanza Contador (SWC) 6-3, 6-3

2. Besa Bwalya (MCPH) def. Anna Mankoski (SWC) 6-1, 6-3

3. Brailey McMinn (SWC) def. Zoe Bouwmeester (MCPH) 6-3, 6-0

4. Abbi Groff (SWC) def. Deiah Curtis (MCPH) 6-3, 6-3

5. Meghan Kindred (SWC) def. No player (MCPH), by forfeit

6. Jerlecia Thompson (SWC) def. No player (MCPH), by forfeit

 

Doubles competition

1. Brittany Zipf/Besa Bwalya (MCPH) def. Esperanza Contador/Abbi Groff (SWC) 8-2

2. Zoe Bouwmeester/Deiah Curtis (MCPH) def. Meghan Kindred/Brailey McMinn (SWC) 8-4

3. Jerlecia Thompson/Anna Mankoski (SWC) def. No player/No player (MCPH), by forfeit

 

Match Notes

McPherson 10-3

Southwestern 19-2

Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (2,3,1,4,5,6)

KCAC Championship