RESULTS
RAPID CITY, S.D. - Augustana women's tennis kicked off the 2013-14 season with a strong showing at the Rushmore Invitational. The women compiled a 16-1 record in singles matches and a 6-3 mark in doubles play.
Seven Vikings made the trip West River, including five letterwinners from last year's regular season and tournament Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference championship team. Two freshmen also made their collegiate debut in Rapid City and showed how they will continue the strong Augustana tennis tradition.
Returning No. 1 singles player
Katie Jesperson made quick work of her opponents on the way to the championship match -- the senior from Elk River, Minn. lost just five games in her two straight-set victories after a bye placed her in the second round.
Jessa Richards locked down the No. 2 singles as a freshman last season and while holding the same title, went 3-0 to reach the championship match. Richards surrendered just one game in her opening-round match before taking down Michaela Schultz in three sets to reach the semifinals. Richards then won in straight-set fashion to secure a spot in the championship. Jesperson and Richards didn't play the championship match.
Joining Jesperson and Richards in the "A Bracket" was freshman
Christine Olivo whose only loss was to her teammate, Jesperson, in the semifinals. Olivo nearly shut out her University of Sioux Falls opponent in the opening round before reaching the semifinals due to a bye. The Bozeman, Mont. native fell in straight sets to Jesperson, but made quick work of her U-Mary adversary in the third-place match.
In the "B Bracket," Augustana placed two athletes in the final and elected to not play the match.
Liz Lewis cruised through her half of the bracket to the championship match where she met freshman
Meredith Lawrence. Lawrence defeated a USF player before she met Augustana junior
Jenna Helleberg in the second round.
Lawrence beat Helleberg in straight sets then earned a spot in the championship match with a win over Calleigh Carlson of Gustavus Adolphus. Helleberg rebounded with a straight-set win to advance to the fifth-place match which was not played.
Heather Sullivan dropped her first match in a second-set tiebreaker but won out in the consolation bracket. Sullivan defeated three consecutive opponents in straight sets to take win the consolation title.
In doubles, the trio of Helleberg, Lawrence, and Lewis combined to advance to the championship match before falling, 8-3 to a Gustavus Adolphus pairing. Jesperson and Richards lost in the semifinal to the eventual champions, but rebounded with a win over a different GAC pairing. Olivo and Sullivan rolled in their opening-round match before falling the winning combo from Gustavus Adolphus.
The Vikings are back in action this weekend at the ITA/USTA Central Region Championship in Springfield, Mo.
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