ORIGINALLY WRITTEN
The Tabor College tennis found success in Kansas City over the weekend, led by No. 1 singles player Laurel Delamater, who made the round of eight.
Delamater opened with a first-round bye but followed that with a 7-6, 6-0 victory over Zowislak of Missouri Valley and a 6-0, 6-3 win over Mennerick of McKendree.
In the round of 16, Delamater downed No. 4 seeded Jessica Williams of William Jewell, 6-4, 6-1, to move into the quarter-finals against No. 5 seeded Maribel Belandrano of Graceland College.
After winning the first set 6-4, Delamater dropped the next two sets, 5-7, 3-6.
“This is the furthest any Tabor player has ever gone in this event in the singles draw,” coach Lonnie Isaac said. “Laurel played the best she has since coming to Tabor.
“She had several quality wins and won the first set in the quarters, but just seemed to tire a little toward the end of the match,” he added. “She had a great tournament, though, and proved she is capable of playing with anyone in this region.”
Ashlee Helmley also fared well, defeating McWhierter of Benedictine 6-2, 6-7, 6-4, and Howe of Nebraska Wesleyan, 7-5, 6-0, before bowing to No. 3 seeded Eidson of Baker, 0-6, 1-6.
“Ashlee had a very good singles tournament,” Isaac said. “She had a great come-from-behind win in the round of 64 against a solid player from Benedictine.
“In the past, Ashlee has struggled with situations like this. To see her stay in the match mentally and pull off a win like this was great.”
Other singles matches for the women:
n Danni Brucks: first-round bye, lost to Shank of Baker, 2-6, 0-6.
n Jennifer Proffitt: first-round bye, lost to No. 1 seeded Macies of Lindenwood 0-6, 0-6.
n Erica Scofield: lost to Thoman of McKendree 0-6, 0-6.
n Heather Stepanek: lost to Bowman of Lindenwood 1-6, 0-6.
In doubles:
n Delamater and Helmley defeated Betz and Autenrieb of McKendree 9-7 and lost to Struble and Shank of Baker, 5-8.
n Brucks and Proffitt defeated Lindenwood 8-0, and Pickett and Metcalf of St. Francis, 8-2; lost to Matzen and Lopez of Newman, 3-8.
n Scofield and Stepanek lost to Salter and Ariana of Graceland 3-8.
“I was pleased with the way our women played in this tournament,” Isaac said. “Our top four players all posted some impressive results in either singles or doubles.”
In men’s play:
n Michael Hagen defeated Buskirk of Missouri Valley, 6-0, 6-0; lost to Waite of Baker 1-6, 0-6.
n Aaron Friesen defeated Melnek of Benedictine 6-1, 6-2; lost to Rodriqueaz of Graceland 3-6, 2-6.
n Jason Reiswig lost to Brodbeck of Graceland 0-6, 2-6.
n Andrew Braun lost to Rowoldt of William Jewell, 3-6, 3-6.
n Shane Miller lost to Joel Patrick of Missouri Valley 6-2, 3-6, 1-6.
n Jesse Janzen lost to Kryzwicki of St. Francis 4-6, 5-7.
n Scott Adrian lot to Reilly of Benedictine, 3-8.
n Nick Glanzer lost to Cromer of Illinois Springfield, 0-6, 1-6.
“The men’s team really had some tough draws,” Isaac said. “It was great to play some really good competition, but we didn’t have the success in the win column that we would have liked.”
