FINAL MT v Whitewater

Coe 3
Whitewater 6

Doubles:
1.  Sprinkel/Galbraith v Balkin/Humphreys  6-8
2.  Hickman/Janssen v Shklyar/Beck  4-8
3.  Stokstad/Decker v Friend/Laktash  8-9
4.  (Exhibition) Kroll/Bernt v Whitewater  3-8

Singles:
1.  Sprinkel v Humphreys  5-7, 0-6
2.  Galbraith v Shklyar  6-2, 6-1
3.  Hickman v Balkin  6-4, 4-6, 5-7
4.  Stokstad v Raman  6-3, 7-5
5.  Bernt v Klein  6-4, 4-6 8-10
6.  Janssen v Laktash  6-3 5-7 11-9
7.  (Exhibition) Decker v Whitewater  2-8
8.  (Exhibition) Kroll v Whitewater 5-8

On to the NCAA's!

Today the Coe College Women's Tennis Team competed in the Iowa Conference NCAA Automatic Qualifying tournament. Play was held on the outdoor courts at Clark Racquet Center as Coe earned this privilege by winning the IIAC in the Fall.

In the semifinals of the six team event, Coe knocked off #4 seed Central College 5-0, sweeping the doubles and adding singles wins by Amy Sebastian and Diannah Watson from the #3 and #4 flights.

The afternoon finals was another chapter in the long running rivalry between Coe and Luther Tennis. Coe edged ahead during doubles play by virtue of wins at #1(Laura/Jordan) and #2(Tai/Diannah) doubles. Three singles victories from Amy(#3), Tai(#1) and Laura(#4) clinched the win and sent Coe onward to the NCAA's.

1st, 2nd and 3rd round play in the Team portion of the NCAA will be contested May 9-11th. Coe will learn their destination and opponent when the draw is released at 5pm on Monday May 5th.

Pioneer Test

Both Teams ventured westward 75 miles and took on the best of the Midwest Conference,(Remember that Coe was a member of the MWAC until 1998) Grinnell College. The Pioneers dominate the Midwest Conference in both Men's and Women's Tennis and posed a serious challenge to the Kohawks.

And the day of Tennis did not disappoint as both Kohawk squads were severely tested. Of the 18 flights contested only four were lopsided. The Women escaped with a narrow 5-4 win as Diannah Watson clinched from the #5 singles spot. The Men appeared to have it much easier with the 8-1 final tally, but in truth, four of the six flights went three sets. A Great Day of College Tennis!

One historical note of achievement, Tai Lucero passed doubles partner Michelle Schupbach to become the Leader in Career Wins in Kohawk Tennis. All-American Molly Fiala is 3rd on the list.

The 2014 Spring continues to wind down as the Women host the IIAC NCAA Automatic Qualifying tourney this Friday and Saturday. With at least four very good squads, this will be one of the more competitive Saturday's in AQ history. The Men host the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater on Sunday at 10am. Whitewater is a Central Region power ranked ahead of the Kohawks.

An April Timeout

In most Team Sports, a Coach can call a Timeout.  A Timeout to stall momentum, to inject strategy, calm down excited adrenal glands etc. Not so in College Tennis.

So tonight I am calling a Timeout! To reflect, to learn, to move forward.

Kohawk Tennis went to Chicago. (Sounds like a good begining to a story, no?) Kohawk Tennis got slammed. Score-wise anyway.  Gory details: Men lost to Chicago 7-2, to Case 8-1. Women lost to Chicago 9-0, to Case 7-1(despite having 3 and a half hours of sunlight, Tai couldn't finish her match before night fell ;)

Positives? Sean Stokstad had the best singles weekend of his career. Noah competed evenly with high level players, Ryan proved to be a worthy #3 at a top National level. Tai remained as difficult as ever to defeat, WT doubles was competitive throughout, Jordan continues to gather confidence. And All had fun and learned.

The Challenge is thrust upon Coach Kris and myself to schedule such great opportunities for our Kohawk Tennis teams to grow from such high level competition, while meeting our Conference and Regional obligations.

More high level competition awaits: Coe M/W travel to Grinnell College Saturday for matchups with under ranked M/W squads from Grinnell.   Coach Andy Hamilton has two talented squads that are well-coached, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Coe Teams. Follow via Twitter

@KohawkTennis

Conference Championships

With two wins yesterday (9-0 over Loras, and 8-1 over Central), the Men secured their 3rd straight Conference Title!

Congratulations to the Men's Team on the success they've had to date.  I know that they are looking forward to the challenges, and opportunities, that remain on tap this Spring!

The Conference Title is Coe's 20th in the 25 year history of the Racquet Center.

The Women had picked up their 3rd straight Conference Title this past Fall.

Both teams travel to Chicago this weekend to face the Nationally ranked squads of U of Chicago, Case Western and Wash U.

An addendum to Coach Kris' post:

The Men indeed did capture the 20th Conference Championship in the 25 year history of the Racquet Center. A good time for me to take a brief moment to reflect on the past, present and future of Kohawk Tennis. From the 1st title in 1993 where the Men rallied from a 2-4 deficit to sweep doubles in knocking off 13 time Midwest Conference Champion, Ripon College, to the 1st ever Women's title in the Fall of 1993, to the six-peat of the Men 2001-06, to the current simultaneous three-peat of the Men AND Women, it has been a great time to be associated with the Racquet Center, Kohawk Tennis and Coe College. Coe has faced many inspired Conference foes along the way(Ripon, Grinnell, Beloit, Central and, of course Luther, being the most prominent) along with historical rival Cornell College.

The Teams of 2014 have challenges remaining beginning with the overambitious scheduling of six nationally ranked squads this weekend in Chicago, a combined M/W dual meet with strong Grinnell teams, a date with new national power Wisconsin-Whitewater and of course the NCAA Iowa Conference Automatic Qualifying Tournaments. Regardless of the final results, the 2014 squads have made their contributions to the lore of Kohawk Tennis.

Tennis in NCAA D3 has never been stronger. Better players, more schools putting more resources into Tennis, and a very high level of talented coaches join the D3 ranks every year. D3 has become the place for American USTA Junior Tennis players. A place where they can compete at a very high level of tennis while at the same time having the ability to attain a high quality undergraduate education. Keeping up is a challenge. Coach Kris and I have met with the Administration at length and we are discussing new ways to maximize our Tennis resources and facilities so that we can continue to compete at the highest level possible. Changes are coming to Kohawk Tennis. Changes we believe will enhance the experiences of Kohawk Tennis.

It has personally been a very satisfying 25 years. I am eager to see what happens next!

Coach Rodgers
 

Picture of the Week

Women were in Quincy, IL this past weekend.  We picked up lunch to go and ate riverside.

USTA Women's National 35 Clay Court Championships

Coach Kris is currently in Houston, Texas competing in the USTA National 35 Clay Court Championships at the Houston Racquet Club. 

She just won her round of 16 match today over Ivett Donoso of Houston, TX by a 62 63 score to advance to the quarterfinal round. Kris and partner Yulia Bolotova of Philadelphia, PA will take the court at 3pm for their round of 16 doubles match.

Updates to follow:

Kris and Yulia fell in the round of 16 doubles 62 62. Comment was "received a lesson in age group doubles. They had good hands at the net"

On to singles quarterfinals tomorrow:

Coach Kris fell to #2seed Patricia Zerdan 60 61. Zerdan, a native of Argentina, now residing in Dallas, played her college tennis at Southern Methodist.

Kris now plays this afternoon at 330pm against Judy Chang of Houston. 

Saturday Schedule of Play 

Kris advanced to the semifinals of the backdraw yesterday. Today she will play #3 seed Gee Gee Garvin of Carlsbad, CA at 9am. Ms Garvin played her collegiate tennis at UNLV  and BYU and is currently the title holder for the USTA 35 National Indoors. 

At Noon Kris and Yulia will play in doubles against Leora Grimshaw and Alisa Yee, both from the San Francisco area.

Sunday Schedule of Play

Kris has now moved into the Finals of the backdraw in BOTH Singles and Doubles with victories on Saturday. She plays in just a few minutes in singles, and at 1230 Kris and Yulia will have a rematch with the pair that knocked them out in the round of 16. Coach Kris' conqueror in the quarterfinals, Patricia Zerdan, will play for the Singles title at 9am.

Final Results:

Coach Kris finished 6th in the singles and 5th in the doubles.
Brought home "Hardware" and Prize Money!