MATCH SCORES
ORLANDO, Fla. – The Augustana women's tennis team was tasked with their second Division I opponent in as many days, but this time the Vikings (11-2) were not as fortunate, losing 5-4 to Radford University.
Katie Jesperson continued to play well, this time edging her opponent in three sets to start the Vikings off at No. 1 singles. Jesperson dropped the first set 6-3, but answered with a 6-4 second set win and a 10-8 win in the third set.
Jessa Richards was outmatched by her opponent at No. 2 singles losing 6-2, 6-2.
Michelle Wadas picked her teammate up by winning a thrilling three-set match at No. 3 singles. Wadas came up short in the first set, 6-4, but took the next two sets, 7-5, 10-5.
Undefeated heading into the match,
Hannah Gebauer had won 10 consecutive matches, but that changed when Meg Napolitano dropped Gebauer in straight sets, 7-6, 6-1.
Heather Sullivan battled to three sets, but ultimately couldn't match her Radford counterpart. Sullivan won the first set handily, 6-2, but lost the second set in a tiebreaker, 7-6. In the third set, Sullivan finally lost 11-9. At No. 6 singles,
Jenna Helleberg was defeated 6-1, 6-3 and the Highlanders were up 4-2 after the singles matches.
Jesperson and Wadas defeated their opponents 8-6 and Richards and Gebauer shook off their first loss of the season by winning 8-5 at No. 2 doubles. Sullivan and Helleberg didn't have enough to take down the final doubles pairing from Radford, losing 8-2 and the Highlanders took the team match, 5-4.
The Vikings will face their first Division II opponent of the trip in a 10:30 bout with St. Michaels.
