BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University women's tennis team celebrated its senior day at Evergreen Racquet Club by taking on Loras College Sunday, March 30. The Titans fell 5-2 to the Duhawks, dropping IWU to 8-10 on the season, while LC improves to 10-16.
The Titans honored seniors Andie Wilson (Champaign, Ill.-Centennial) and Kate Christian (Washington, Ill.-Washington Community) prior to the start of the match. The duo began their careers for the Green and White during head coach Jason Van Heuklon's first year as the women's head coach in 2022-23, and helped him build the program back up over the past three seasons.
Illinois Wesleyan kicked off the match by winning the one-point decision in doubles play. Freshmen Gabi Lipske (Gurnee, Ill.-Mundelein) and Katie Van Heuklon (Normal, Ill.-Normal West) dominated at No. 2 doubles, taking a 6-1 win. The seniors paired up at No. 3 doubles and won an exciting match to claim the doubles point for the Green and White. All tied at five, Christian and Wilson took the next point to hold an edge over the Duhawks behind solid serving from Wilson.
Switching sides of the court, the two remained strong, as Christian returned the serve, and set up Wilson after, who tapped one over and out of the reach of the Duhawks to take the victory, 7-5.
IWU's lone win in singles came from Lipske in the No. 2 individual spot. Needing extra time to claim the first set, Lipske took the tiebreaker 7-4 to own a 7-6 (4) win. The freshman followed by taking the second set, 6-3, to notch her second win of the day.
The Titans were unable to steal a few others in singles play, falling 5-2. Illinois Wesleyan concludes the regular season portion of the schedule at Greenville University Saturday, April 12. Action is set to begin at 12:30 p.m. at Scott J. Burgess Tennis Complex.
Singles competition
1. Mary Breitbach (LORWTEN) def. Ehrlich, Amber (IWU) 6-3, 6-3
2. Lipske, Gabi (IWU) def. Dorothy Deans (LORWTEN) 7-6 (7-4), 6-3
3. Leia Papanicholas (LORWTEN) def. Van Heuklon, Katie (IWU) 7-6 (7-2), 6-2
4. Caroline Hutchinson (LORWTEN) def. Bell, Olivia (IWU) 6-0, 7-5
5. Ellie Kalina (LORWTEN) def. Christian, Kate (IWU) 6-2, 7-6 (7-5)
6. Alexis Tatum (LORWTEN) def. Wilson, Andie (IWU) 6-3, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. Mary Breitbach/Dorothy Deans (LORWTEN) def. Ehrlich, Amber/Bell, Olivia (IWU) 6-2
2. Lipske, Gabi/Van Heuklon, Katie (IWU) def. Leia Papanicholas/Ellie Kalina (LORWTEN) 6-1
3. Christian, Kate/Wilson, Andie (IWU) def. Caroline Hutchinson/Lauren Keiper (LORWTEN) 7-5
