The women’s tennis team lost last Saturday against Ripon in an away game in Ripon, Wisconsin. The score was lopsided as the Red Hawks defeated the Vikings handily 9-0. Abby Birling was the only Viking who took her match into three sets. The match, however, was mired in some controversy, as the weather that day was rainy, windy, and otherwise unsuitable for match play.
Coach Ali attempted to reschedule the match, but due to scheduling conflicts the match was played anyway, much of it in the indoor courts, which Ripon sometimes uses for practice.
The courts themselves are made from a different surface than the asphalt outside courts, which makes a tremendous difference with regards to the dynamics of how one is able to move and how the ball itself moves on the court.
Junior Julia Ruff commented, “On an indoor surface, even when you lob the ball you can’t back pedal. You have to change your game completely.”
On the match itself she commented, “Everyone was counting on the meet being canceled, but it wasn’t. We played and we lost.”
Lawrence plays its next match this Saturday against an undefeated Wisconsin Lutheran (5-0) in an away game.