Kelsie Allen Captures IIAC Singles Title

Oct. 17, 2009

Five members of the 2009 Iowa Conference championship Luther College tennis team earned all-conference honors at the league's individual championship, led by Kelsie Allen who was crowned the Flight A Singles Tournament champion. This weekend's two-day tournament was held in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and was hosted by the University of Dubuque.

To earn all-conference honors, a player must reach the quarterfinals of the 32-player Flight A Singles Tournament or reach the semi-finals of the 16-team Flight A Doubles Tournament.

In singles play, Kelsie Allen, Alana Humpal and Fran Fairfield all earned all-conference honors for the second time of their careers. Brynne Zinnecker earned this honor for the first time.

Allen, the top seed of the Flight A singles tournament, captured the 2009 individual title, posting a 0-6, 6-4, 1-0 (6) decision over Coe's Hannah Jensen in a rematch of the 2008 Flight A singles final. Allen defeated Fairfield 5-7, 6-4, 1-0 (10) and Jensen topped Wartburg's Molly Eslick 6-3, 6-4 in the semifinals to advance to the championship match. Eslick went on to defeated Fairfield 2-6, 7-5, 1-0 (8) for third place. Humpal and Zinnecker were both eliminated from the tournament in the quarterfinals.

Zinnecker and Allen became repeat all-conference performers in doubles play, while Fairfield and Katy Lindstrom reached the semifinals for the first time of their careers. Allen's all-conference honor in doubles play was the third of her career.

Fairfield and Lindstrom, who defeated Allen and Zinnecker in the semifinals 8-6, were defeated in the championship match 8-3, by the top seeded duo of Andrea Schupbach and Michelle Schupbach of Coe .

Complete results

The Iowa Conference individual tournament concludes Luther's fall schedule. The Norse completed the fall slate with a dual meet record of 14-2.

Luther College captures record 24th Iowa Conference Title

Oct. 10, 2009

IIAC Champions

Thanks to a sweep in doubles play, #2 seed Luther College defeated #1 seed Coe College 5-1 this afternoon 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 and Kelsie Allen posted an 8-6 victory at #1 doubles, while Katy Lindstrom and Fran Fairfield were victorious 8-5 victory at #3. Alana Humpal and Katie Nichols completed the sweep with a hard fought 9-8 (2) win at #2.

Entering singles play, Cami Czech extended the Luther lead to 4-0 with a 6-2, 6-0 win over Sarah Ohlman at #6 singles, before freshman 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," commented Head Coach Brian Huinker. "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."

Box scores

The two victories this weekend gives Luther a dual meet record of 14-2. The Coe lost was its first of the 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.

Luther wraps up regular season fall schedule with wins over Central and Simpson

Oct. 3, 2009

The Luther College women's tennis team wrapped up its regular season fall schedule with a pair of road victories over Simpson College and Central College this afternoon.

The Norse dropped just six games in singles play and two in doubles action en route to a 9-0 victory over Simpson. The 9-0 victory was the fourth over an Iowa Conference opponent this year.

Box score

Following the Simpson match, the Norse traveled to Pella and posted a 6-3 victory over the Dutch of Central College. Alana Humpal and Katie Nichols at #2 doubles and Katy Lindstrom and Fran Fairfield at #3, got the Norse off to a 2-1 start, posting wins of 8-3 and 8-5 respectively.

In singles play, the Norse picked up four more wins, securing a 6-3 victory. Elise Allen won a hard fought three set match at #1, while Nichols at #2, Katie Patterson at #3 and Meghan Williams at #6 all posted straight set wins.

Box score

The two wins increased Luther's Iowa Conference record to 7-1, 12-2 overall. Next weekend, Luther will join the rest of the Iowa Conference for the league's team championships that will be held at the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Center in Iowa City. The Norse will more than likely be the #2 seed of the tournament. Times and schedules will be announced this week on the Iowa Conference website.

escores

Luther splits with Wheaton and Elmhurst

Sept. 26, 2009

Wheaton College handed Luther only its second loss of the season, a 6-3 decision in Wheaton, Ill., this afternoon.

Luther trailed 2-1 after doubles play picking up its lone win at #2 by Alana Humpal and Katie Nichols by a score of 8-2.

Wheaton added four more points in singles play en route to the victory. Fran Fairfield (pictured) at #2 posted a three set victory, while Brynne Zinnecker won in straight sets at #3.

The second match of the afternoon saw Luther cruise to straight set victories in all six singles matches and dropped just two games in doubles play, as the Norse defeated Elmhurst 9-0. The 9-0 victory was the fifth of the season for the team.

The split this afternoon gives Luther an overall record of 10-2.

Box scores

The Norse will return to action one week from today when they will travel to Central College to play the Dutch and Simpson College. The Central match will begin at Noon, followed by the Simpson match at 4:00 p.m.

Luther continues winning ways in conference play - defeats Loras 9-0

Sept. 26, 2009

The Luther College women's tennis team continued its winning ways in the Iowa Conference, posting a 9-0 decision over Loras College this afternoon in Dubuque. The win increases Luther's league record to 5-1.

Luther jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead after sweeping the doubles play. Katie Patterson and Katy Lindstrom posted an 8-0 victory at #1. Meghan Williams and Cassandra Chalhoub were victorious at #2 by a score of 8-4, while Annie Whiteley and Laura Reutlinger won 8-1 at #3.

Lindstrom, Patterson and Abby Landsness posted rather easy straight set victories in singles play at #1, #2 and #6 respectively. Chalhoub battle for a hard-fought three set victory at #3. Williams at #4 and Carrie Eisele at #5 won in straight sets but need tie-breakers to secure the victories.

Box score

The Norse will return to Iowa Conference play one week from today when they will travel to Central College to play the Dutch and Simpson College. The Central match will begin at Noon, followed by the Simpson match at 4:00 p.m.

Luther splits team - posts four wins

Sept. 19, 2009

Head Coach Brian Huinker sent his team in two directions today. One half of the squad stayed at home and posted wins over the University of Dubuque and Carthage, while the other half traveled to Storm Lake, Iowa.

In Storm Lake, the Norse swept both Buena Vista University and Morningside by a tally of 9-0.

Here at home, the Norse dropped just one set, posting a 9-0 victory over Dubuque and a 8-1 decision over Carthage.

Box scores

The victories over Dubuque and Buena Vista increased Luther's Iowa Conference record to 4-1. The four total victories gives the Norse an overall record of 8-1.

On week from today, the Norse have road matches scheduled with Wheaton College, Elmhurst College and Loras College. The Norse will play at Wheaton at 10:00 a.m. and them will line up against Elmhurst, also at Wheaton, at 1:30 p.m. The Loras match will begin at 9:00 a.m.

Luther drops first match of the season to coe 6-3

Sept. 13, 2009

In a showdown between two of the top teams in the Iowa Conference, Coe College set the stage early sweeping doubles play, en route to a 6-3 victory over Luther this afternoon here in Decorah. The Kohawks posted 8-3 victories at both #1 and #2 doubles and an 8-6 win at #3.

In singles action, both teams picked up three wins. Kelsie Allen (pictured) won at #2 in three sets, while Fran Fairfield at #3 and Cami Czech at #6 both won in straight sets. Czech secured her straight set victory with a 7-6 (7-3) win in the second set.In the other three matches, Coe posted straight set victories.

Box score

The loss was the first of the season for the Norse who are now 2-1 in the Iowa Conference, 4-1 overall. Coe remains undefeated with a league record of 3-0, 4-0 overall.

Head Coach Brian Huinker will send his squad in two different directions when the Norse resume play on Sept. 19. Half of the team will stay home and will host Dubuque and Carthage, while the other half will travel to Buena Vista University to play the Beavers and Morningside.

Luther remaines undefeated after posting wins over UW-Eau Claire and Cornell

Sept. 12, 2009

Luther remains undefeated after posting a 6-3 victory over UW-Eau Claire and an 8-1 victory over Cornell College this afternoon here in Decorah. The Norse are now 4-0 and will put their win streak on the line tomorrow afternoon when they will host Coe College at 2:00 p.m.

Luther breezed to three 8-2 victories in doubles play in the Eau Claire match, but split with the Blugolds 3-3 in singles action. Kelsie Allen at #1 and Brynne Zinnecker at #3 posted straight set victories. Fran Fairfield at #2 won a hard fought three set victory, capping off the match with a 10-8 decision in the third and final set.

Box score

Luther won five of six singles matches and swept doubles play en route to its 8-1 victory over Cornell.

Meghan Williams (pictured) needed three sets to post a victory at #5 and battled to a 12-10 decision in the third. Fairfield, Katie Nichols (pictured), Cami Czech and Katy Lindstrom all posted straight set victories.

Box score

Luther Starts off season with wins over UW-La Crosse and Wartburg

Sept. 6, 2009

The Luther College women's tennis team started the 2009 campaign with 6-3 victories over UW-La Crosse and Wartburg this afternoon in Waverly.

In the La Crosse match, the Norse swept doubles play and entered singles competition up 3-0. Victories by Fran Fairfield at #3, Elise Allen at #4 and Brynne Zinnecker at #5 secured the first team win of the year.

Box score

Luther took two of three doubles matches and four of six singles matches in the Wartburg match en route to its first conference win. Elise Allen at #2, Meghan Williams at #4, Cassandra Chalhoub at #5 and Katy Lindstrom at #6, all posted straight set victories.

Box score

The Norse will return to action this weekend when they will host both UW-Eau Claire and Cornell on Saturday, Sept. 12. The Eau Claire match will begin at 9:00 a.m. and the match with Cornell will start at 3:00 p.m.

On Sunday, Luther hosts Coe College at 2:00 p.m.