MATCH SCORES
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Augustana won its fifth straight match with an 8-1 win over Saint Benedict's on Saturday. The Vikings improve to 14-1 on the season while the Blazers drop to 7-6.
Playing their first home match in a month, Augustana reeled off their fifth consecutive victory at the friendly confines of the GreatLife Woodlake fitness center. The only match the Vikings lost came as a retirement due to injury.
Augustana jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the match by sweeping the doubles contests. No. 2 doubles pairing of Christin Olivo and
Heather Sullivan recorded the first win of the day, an 8-3 win.
Top doubles pairing
Katie Jesperson and
Jessa Richards quickly followed with an 8-1 win for the Vikings.
Jenna Helleberg and
Meredith Lawrence completed the sweep for Augustana, winning the No. 3 doubles contest by an 8-4 margin.
Jesperson moved up one spot to No. 4 in the ITA Central Region singles rankings released Wednesday and the senior proved it by winning her No. 1 singles match 6-3, 6-3. Richards held onto her No. 15 region ranking and backed it up with a 6-1, 6-0 victory.
Augustana's
Francesca Beg was the only Vikings to suffer a defeat after she retired in the second set due to injury. Olivo got Augustana back on track, winning the No. 4 singles match 6-2, 6-1.
Helleberg added to the Viking lead with a 6-3, 6-2 win and Lawrence put the finishing touches on the team win by shutting out her opponent 6-0, 6-0 -- her seventh double-bagel win of the season.
Augustana will hold the second of four straight home matches on Sunday, March 23 against Bemidji State beginning at 9 a.m. at GreatLife Woodlake fitness center.
Â
--- GoAugie.com ---
