The Webster University women's tennis team won its semi-final match, in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament, with a 5-0 win over Westminster College. The Gorloks's win, on April 17 at the Dwight Davis Tennis Center in Forest Park, advances the team to the championship match vs. Principia College on April 18 at Dwight Davis.
Against the Blue Jays, Webster swept the three doubles matches, then clinched the victory after Marissa Lewis and Monica Behrle had won at #1 and #2 singles. With Webster having the necessary five points for a win, the match was halted.
It was a record-breaking afternoon for Webster. With her win at #2 singles, Behrle (Atlanta, GA/East Paulding HS) broke the school record for wins in a single season with her 19th victory. Behrle had been tied with teammate Lewis (SR, Owasso, OK/Owasso HS) and Allison Tungate, who both won 18 singles matches in 2012. The win was Behrle's 13th straight as she improved to 19-1 on the year.
Lewis improved to16-3 on the season at singles and, teaming with Kaylen Kress (JR, Bartlett, IL/Bartlett HS), won at #1 doubles, 8-1. Lewis and Kress are 12-6 on the year as a doubles tandem. Behrle and Jesse Steffens-Willis (FR, Fenton, MO/Rockwood Summit HS) won their eighth straight as partners, and improved to 10-2 in doubles. Stephanie Lass (FR, Lake Villa, IL/Lakes Community HS) and Chelsea Foster (SO, St. Louis, MO/McCluer North HS) won at #3 doubles, 8-3.
The win was the Gorloks' ninth straight, tying for the third longest winning streak in the program's 30-year history. Webster is now 13-4 on the season, and the 13 wins are the third most in a year in team history as well.
This will be Webster's fifth time in the championship match, since the tournament went to a head to head format, with the Gorloks last winning in 2012. The winner of the tournament will advance to the NCAA III Championships. Webster has met Principia in the championship match twice previously, winning in 2012 and losing in 2013. The Gorloks defeated the Panthers on April 11, 5-4, at Principia. The Gorloks and Panthers begin play at 10:00 a.m.
Webster University 5, Westminster College 0Singles competition
1. Marissa Lewis (WUWT) def. Jessica Klutts (WCWT) 6-0, 6-0
2. Monica Behrle (WUWT) def. Payton Beeler (WCWT) 6-0, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. Marissa Lewis/Kaylen Kress (WUWT) def. Payton Beeler/Ellen Woolsey (WCWT) 8-1
2. Monica Behrle/J. Steffens-Willis (WUWT) def. Laura Wiltshire/Laura Kelly (WCWT) 8-2
3. Stephanie Lass/Chelsea Foster (WUWT) def. Jessica Klutts/Grace Sanford (WCWT) 8-3
