The Webster University women's tennis team fell to Principia College (IL), 5-0, in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship match, on April 20 at the Dwight Davis Center in Forest Park. Despite the loss, the team had one of the best seasons in program history with individual and team successes reflected in the Webster record books.
The Panthers, who had given the Gorloks their only other loss on the season, proved to be too tough of an opponent to overcome. Webster battled in the three double matches, losing 2-8 at #1 and #2, and 6-8 at #3. Down 3-0 going into the singles, after Webster had lost two of the singles pairings the match was ended.
It was an end to a very successful season, despite losing four of its top six singles players from the previous season. In addition to finishing second in the SLIAC, the 2013 team wound up 14-2 overall, the second highest number of wins in a season and the highest winning percentage in the program's history at .875.
The Gorloks bid adieu to senior Lindsey Hays (Francis Howell HS, MO). Hays wound up with 12 singles wins on the season, giving her 54 for her career, the second highest total in Webster history. With her 11 wins in doubles, she finished at 48 career wins, second also in the Webster record books. Hays played a big part in the transition of the Webster women's program into a perennial winner as the team had a cumulative record of 53-14 during her four years.
With a roster that featured all sophomores and freshmen outside of Hays, the Gorloks have reason to be optimistic that they will continue to build on the success of recent seasons.
The results for the Principia match:
Principia College 5 Webster Women 0
Doubles
Sanderude/Corbitt (PC) defeat Hays/Fitz (WU) 8-2
Adams/H. Andersen (PC) defeat Kress/Kennedy (WU) 8-2
Ikuma/Roy (PC) defeat Wilder/Espinoza (WU) 8-6
Singles
Corbitt (PC) defeats Fitz (WU) 6-0, 6-2
H. Anderson (PC) defeats Kennedy (WU) 6-0, 6-0
