October 1, 2007

Women's Tennis Has Successful Showing in Iowa

Four First Place & Three Third Place Finishes

       Kearney, Neb. –  The Nebraska-Kearney women's tennis team had a very successful showing in the Upper Iowa Women's Tournament this past weekend in Waterloo, Iowa.

      The two-day tournament featured the host Peacocks, UNK, Minnesota State, Augustana, Lewis (Ill.) and Division III Wartburg College (Iowa).

      In singles action, Kearney sophomore Kristen Messbarger (# 2), Holdrege freshman Marcelle Strydom (# 3) and sophomore Claire Bryan (# 6) each won their bracket.

      Top player Katie Mary Outhwaite (Konjonup, Western Australia) placed third at No. 1 singles, Hastings senior Jenna Eichman was third at No. 5 singles with Bellevue junior McKenna Irwin rallying to finish fifth at No. 5 singles.

      In doubles, Bryan and Strydom finished third in the No. 2 bracket, Outhwaite and Irwin placed fourth at the No. 1 spot and Messbarger paired up with either Eichman or Amanda Longly (Lexington) to win the No. 3 doubles bracket.

      Messbarger had a battle with Erin Piechochinski of Lewis in round one (2-6, 6-1, 10-5) before two straight set wins in the semis and finals.

      Strydom took an opposite path to her singles title, having two straight set wins before edging Melanie Sandberg of Lewis (6-4, 1-6, 10-6) in the finals. Also having a tough finale was Bryan, who beat another Lewis Flyer, Ann Oberbruner, in the finals (4-6, 6-1, 10-6).

      Outhwaite, a transfer from the U. of Memphis, reached the third place match with a heart stopper over Upper Iowa's Jennifer Bradfield (3-6, 6-4, 10-6). She then had a straight sets win over Emily Gaster of Augustana (6-3, 6-4).

      Irwin beat Lewis' Jordan Lynde (6-2, 6-1) in the fifth place bout with Eichman dominating Clare Kessler of Lewis (6-1, 6-1) in the third place match.

      Finally, in doubles, UNK got a first round bye in the No. 3 bracket and then gave up just three points en route to the tile.

      UNK ends the fall season this Satuday with a home dual vs. Hastings College.