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.

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