Augustana University Athletics

MATCH SCORES

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. - After dropping one spot in the February regional poll, 41st-ranked Augustana knew the importance of winning non-conference region matches increased. The Vikings were up to the task on Saturday, taking down Northwest Missouri State, 8-0.
 
Augustana owns the No. 4 region ranking and remain undefeated on the season, moving to 8-0. The Bearcats are left reeling with their second straight loss to open the 2014 campaign.
 
Augustana first flexed its muscles in the doubles matches, winning by at least two breaks in each contest. No. 1 doubles pairing of Katie Jesperson and Jessa Richards lived up to their No. 2 region ranking with an 8-3 victory.
 
The next doubles matches were easily won by the Vikings; the second-flight doubles match was an 8-3 victory and Augustana's undefeated No. 3 pairing coasted to an 8-2 win.
 
Singles play would not go as easily for the Vikings, but their 3-0 cushion from the doubles matches allowed some cushion. Three Vikings lost their first set, but they battled back to win in three.
 
A top-20 region matchup at No. 2 singles opened the individual competition, pitting No. 15 Richards against No. 20 Alexis Bartek of NWMSU. Richards fell in a first-set tiebreaker before taking the next two for a 6-7, 6-4, 10-8 win.
 
Francesca Beg faced her toughest test of the season, but like Richards, the British import pulled out a three-set win. Beg rallied back from a set down to take the No. 3 singles match 3-6, 6-2, 10-8 and give the Vikings five match wins to ensure a team victory.
 
The No. 4 singles match was the third straight to need all three sets, but Christine Olivo equaled Richards and Beg's efforts, pulling out the victory. Like the Vikings before her, Olivo dropped the first set, but she surged back to edge her Bearcat opponent, 2-6, 6-4, 10-8.
 
Jenna Helleberg may have won in straight sets, but her she was pushed to the brink in the second. The junior Grand Island native cruised in her first set, then needed a tiebreaker to snag the victory by a 6-1, 7-6 (7-1).
 
Adding insult to the Bearcats' injury, Meredith Lawrence rolled in the No. 6 singles match. The freshman from Prior Lake, Minn. kept her spotless record clean with a fourth consecutive 6-0, 6-0 win.
 
The Vikings stay the night in Grand Island as they are set to play regionally-ranked Nebraska-Kearney at 9 a.m. tomorrow morning.