The Monmouth College women’s tennis team had their highest finish in
the Midwest Conference Championships and crowned their first
conference singles titlist since 1980 at the just concluded meet
held last weekend in Madison, Wis. Monmouth’s third-place finish
equaled its best showing in the program’s history, which came in
1979.
Amy Unzicker (Morton, Ill./Morton) became the Fighting Scots’
first conference champion since Rhonda Correll turned the trick in
1980. Unzicker didn’t drop a set in rolling to the title at No. 2
singles. The freshman opened the singles tournament with a 6-0, 6-0
sweep of Grinnell’s Jill Akiyama. She then bested St. Norbert’s
Lauren Post 6-3, 6-3 in the semifinals. Unzicker completed her
domination in the finals with a 6-3, 6-0 win over Erika Zevin of
Beloit. She completed her inaugural fall season 16-5 in singles play
and set the Scots’ record for singles victories in a season. She
also set the standard for combined singles and doubles wins in a
season with 29 wins.
Brittany Donnelly (Metamora, Ill./Metamora) earned a second place
finish at No. 4 singles. The senior rolled through the first two
rounds, defeating Illinois College’s Saki Kajimoto 6-0, 6-2 in the
opening round and Calllie Schroeder of St. Norbert 6-1, 6-0 in the
semifinals. Donnelly fell to Grinnell’s Maya Lipert in the
championship 6-2, 6-0.
Cassie Frantz (Macomb, Ill./Macomb) took the consolation title at
No. 1 singles. After dropping a 6-3, 6-1 decision to Illinois
College’s Candy Norville in the opener, the senior posted three
straight wins, beginning with a 10-5 victory over Nonie Carlson of
Lake Forest. Frantz then downed Josie Ullsperger of Ripon 10-4 to
reach the consolation final, where she edged St. Norbert’s Kelly Van
Handel 10-7 for the consolation crown.
In other play, Maddy Ethington advanced to the consolation final
at No. 5 singles, dropping a 10-1 decision to Erin Gebhardt of
Ripon. Sarah McLinden, playing at No. 6 singles, also finished as
the consolation runner-up after falling 10-0 to Ripon’s Kate Dricken.
The Scots opened conference play Friday in the team portion of
the tournament, dropping their opening match with Lawrence 5-1.
Monmouth then posted a 5-2 win over St. Norbert in the consolation
match to earn third-place team honors.
With the shortened spring season yet to go, Frantz and Donnelly
are in a dead heat for the team’s career singles wins record. The
two seniors began the fall season tied for the record and each
recorded 13 wins during the fall season to push their career totals
to 41 wins.
Kimi Wegner (Dixon, Ill./Dixon) set the new standard for doubles
wins in a season. The sophomore teamed with Unzicker to post 13 wins
and added another doubles win with McLinden for a school-record 14
doubles victories.
