Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
WINONA LAKE - The Grace College women's tennis team struck the first blow Wednesday, but Manchester regrouped to defeat the Lady Lancers 7-2 in the season opener for each team.
Grace, which featured a seven person lineup with just one senior, opened play by winning two of three doubles matches to head into singles with a 2-1 lead and needing just a split in singles play to get the match victory. But Manchester pulled out all six singles matches, most of them in close fashion, to get the victory.
In doubles play, Grace juniors Anna Metz and Sarah Peters won 8-6 at No. 1 doubles, while freshman Kayla Semmerling and junior Juli Linton won 9-8 (8-6) at No. 3 doubles. At No. 2 doubles, freshmen Brandy Allen and Julie Wegener lost a tight 8-6 match.
In singles, Grace was able to extend only one match to three sets. At No. 2, Metz lost to Milagros Ridoutt in super tiebreak third set 6-3, 6-7 (4-7), 10-4. At No. 6, senior Kari Hueni lost in two very close sets 7-5, 6-4, while Semmerling lost at No. 5 6-4, 6-3. Wegener, playing her first collegiate match and doing it at No. 1, struggled early but was very competitive down the stretch in a 6-0, 7-5 defeat.
Manchester, which plays NCAA Division III, won its conference championship last year. Grace (0-1) will begin conference play Thursday at home against Goshen beginning at 3:30 p.m.
MANCHESTER 7, GRACE 2
Singles
No. 1 - Elizabeth Weybright (M) def. Julie Wegener 6-0, 7-5
No. 2 - Milagros Ridoutt (M) def. Anna Metz 6-3, 6-7 (4-7), 10-4
No. 3 - Christa Hunter (M) def. Sarah Peters 6-0, 6-3
No. 4 - Sarah Conwell (M) def. Juli Linton 6-0, 6-0
No. 5 - Angela Wilcox (M) def. Kayla Semmerling 6-4, 6-3
No. 6 - Kirby Jasper (M) def. Kari Hueni 7-5, 6-4
Doubles
No. 1 - Metz/Peters (G) def. Weybright/Wilcox 8-6
No. 2 - Hunter/Ridoutt (M) def. Brandy Allen/Wegener 8-6
No. 3 -ÊSemmerling/Linton (G) def. Conwell/Jillian Cartwright 9-8 (8-6)
