MATCH SCORES
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - No. 38 Augustana battled through two tough doubles matches and several highly-contested singles matches to take down Upper Iowa 9-0 on Saturday night. The Vikings remain perfect on the season at 3-0 and improve to 2-0 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference competition while the Peacocks fall to 1-2 overall and 1-2 in the NSIC.
Augustana's top two doubles teams were tested early as the Vikings' low first-serve percentage gave Upper Iowa several opportunities to break serve.
Katie Jesperson and
Jessa Richards battled back from down a break to win the No. 1 doubles match 8-5.
At No. 2 doubles,
Christine Olivo and
Heather Sullivan were pushed to the brink, but eventually broke through with an 8-6 win. The third-flight pairing of
Jenna Helleberg and
Meredith Lawrence coasted to an 8-0 win, giving Augustana a 3-0 lead entering the singles matches.
New additions to the Upper Iowa squad at Nos. 1 and 2 singles gave Jesperson and Richards challenges early, but the two regionally-ranked Viking singles players proved to be too much.
In the No. 1 singles match, Jesperson hopped out to a 3-0 lead after cashing in on a pair of break points, but then was broken in her second serving opportunity. Jesperson then broke her opponent's serve again and held to take the first set. The second set featured many long rallies, but Jesperson's steady play netted her a shutout win and gave her a 6-2, 6-0 win for the Vikings.
No. 2 singles pitted two hard-hitting right-handers in Richards and reigning NSIC player of the week Iris Verweij, but it was Richards' cool head and consistent play that would prevail. Richards steadily put away Verweij 6-1 in the first set then raced out to a 5-0 lead in the second set before the UIU No. 2 broke Richards serve and held a marathon seventh game, but Richards equaled her opponent's enduring hold with one of her own and won the second set 6-2.
Francesca Beg battled through a tough No. 3 singles match and emerged victorious but not without drama. Beg appeared to earn the key break late in the first set, but was broken back the next game. Beg then sealed the first set in the tiebreaker with a 7-3 win. The second set was equally difficult, but Beg earned a key break late and won 7-6 (3), 7-5.
At No. 4 singles, Olivo used a quick pace to keep her opponent at bay and rolled to a 6-1, 6-2 win to stay undefeated on the season. Helleberg was tested at No. 5 singles by her opponent's serve-and-volley style, but the junior from Grand Island, Neb. came away with a 7-5, 6-2 victory.
Sullivan put the finishing touches on the perfect victory with a near shutout at No. 6 singles, winning 6-0, 6-1.
The Vikings now head on their first NSIC road trip of the season, traveling to Bismarck, N.D. on Feb. 15 to face Minnesota State and University of Mary.
--- GoAugie.com ---
