Sweep for first

Thanks to a sweep in doubles play, #2 seed Luther College defeated #1 seed Coe College 5-1 Sat. Oct. 10 in the championship match of the Iowa Conference Team Championships. Played at the University of Iowa Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Center, the title was Luther’s first since 2005 and was also a conference record, 24th in school history.

Brynne Zinnecker (‘11) and Kelsie Allen (‘10) posted an 8-6 victory at #1 doubles, while Katy Lindstrom (‘13) and Fran Fairfield (‘11) were victorious 8-5 at #3. Alana Humpal (‘11) and Katie Nichols (‘11) completed the sweep with a hard fought 9-8 (2) win at #2.

Entering singles play, Cami Czech (‘12) extended the Luther lead to 4-0 with a 6-2, 6-0 win over Sarah Ohlman at #6 singles before first-year Michelle Schupbach put the Kohawks on the board with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Humpal at #4. Allen capped the title run for the Norse with a 6-4, 6-4 win at #1.

Both Luther and Coe advanced to the championship tilt after 5-0 semifinal wins Saturday morning, Luther over #3 Wartburg and Coe over #5 Cornell.

“It was a total team effort,” Head Coach Brian Huinker said. “Everyone that played in the championship match scored a point for the team. You couldn’t write a better script for our lone senior, Kelsie Allen. She played the best tennis of her career at the perfect time.”

The two victories this weekend gives Luther a dual meet record of 14-2. The loss was the first for Coe this fall, giving the Kohawks an overall record of 9-1.

The final weekend of the fall season will take place Oct. 16-17 when the Norse will play in the The Iowa Conference Women’s Tennis Individual Tournament. This year the two-day tournament will be played at Veterans Memorial Tennis Complex and Coe College in Cedar Rapids.