St. Norbert shuts out women’s tennis team

The Lawrence University women’s tennis team lost this weekend to the St. Norbert Green Knights by a score of 9-0. This was the last match of the regular season before the Midwest Conference Championships. The loss brings the Vikings to fourth place in the MWC North division and gives them an overall record of 7-9.

As the number one team in the conference, St. Norbert (14-1, 4-0 MWC) proved to be a formidable opponent for the Vikings. “We knew it was going to be tough, but we went in being positive about it,” said senior Hannah Geoffrey.

Geoffrey competed this weekend in both singles and doubles matches and was able to take her singles match to a third set tie-break that ended in a loss to St. Norbert sophomore Erika Chitko. Geoffrey teamed up with sophomore Ali Heiring to compete in a doubles match that ended with a loss to St. Norbert by a final score of 8-6.

Other competitors of note were senior Gayatri Malhotra, senior Polly Dalton, junior Melissa Heeren and freshman Kathleen Frankel who all put forth solid efforts in their singles matches. Malhotra and Dalton also competed in a doubles match, which ended 8-6 in favor of St. Norbert.

More competitors in doubles matches were Frankel and junior Allison Juda who also fell in a difficult match. Although none of the Vikings were able to win a match this weekend, the team remains optimistic. “I feel like in terms of effort we all did really well,” recounts Geoffrey. “We stayed mentally strong and played our best.”

The Lawrence tennis team continues to prepare for their last match of the season at the Midwest Conference Championships. They will be playing individually, as only the top two teams in each division compete for the team championship. The players are excited for one last chance to make a strong statement.

“The team has improved from the beginning of the season both physically and mentally,” commented Geoffrey. “It’s been a long season, and we do get tired, but I don’t think our effort has dropped at all. We’re always fighting and doing the best we can.”

Geoffrey and the rest of the team eagerly anticipate one last hard week of practice before Conference. The team has stayed positive throughout the season so far and looks to continue that mentality as they head into the most important match of the season. Lawrence will compete in both doubles and singles this weekend (Oct. 18-20) in Madison.