ST. LOUIS - After finishing as runners-up the past two seasons at the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament, Webster University was bound to make sure they wouldn't be runner-up again this season as the Gorloks posted a hard-fought 5-3 win over Westminster (Mo.) College here Saturday afternoon at the Dwight Davis Tennis Center to claim the 2018 SLIAC Women's Tennis Tournament Championship for the fourth time in school history and first time since 2015.

Webster, who defeated Westminster 6-3 during the regular season en route to posting a 5-0 league in league play, trailed 2-1 after doubles on Saturday as the No. 2 seeded Blue Jays won at both No. 2 and No. 3 doubles by identical 8-5 scores. 

With Saturday's win, Webster closes the season with a 12-5 record, while Westminster finishes 8-3 on the year. The 12 wins are the most since the 2015-16 squad won 15 matches and posted a 15-10 record. 

Saturday's match came down to the final two singles matches after senior Jesse Steffens-Willis (St. Louis, Mo./Rockwood Summit) gave top-seeded Webster a 4-3 lead in the match after she posted her win at No. 3 singles over Natalie Tiffany. Steffens-Willis gutted out a 6-3, 7-6 (7-1) win to give the Gorloks its fourth point. 

The only two matches left on court were at No. 2 as junior Madison Watts (Rogersville, Mo./Logan Rogersville) was battling Sydney Attebery and at No. 4 as junior Sara Rice (Mahomet, Ill./Mahomet-Seymour) was playing Alexa McPherson. 

Rice, who won the first set, 7-5, but lost the second set to McPherson, 6-2, was serving for the match up 40-15 when McPherson's return on Rice's serve went out of play to give the Gorloks the fifth and final point they needed to secure the championship trophy and bring the trophy back to Webster Groves. 

For Webster, it was the fourth women's tennis championship in school history and the first since 2015. Webster also won the SLIAC Women's Tennis title in 2010 and 2012. The past two seasons prior to this year, Webster had lost in the championship match to Principia. 

Watts and Attebery were tied at 1-1 in the third set when Rice won the match for the Gorloks. Watts' match with Attebery might have been one of the best of the season as Watts forced a tiebreaker in the first set after trailing early, 4-0 and then picked up an impressive 6-4 win in the second set to force a third set that ultimately would go unfinished. 

It was the second time this season that Rice was the deciding match for Webster as she won the fifth and final point in the Gorloks 5-4 win over North Park on April 14. 

Along with Rice and Steffens-Willis, Webster's other wins came in singles at No. 1 as senior Monica Behrle (Atlanta, Ga./East Paudling) closed out her collegiate career with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Clara Baldwin and at No. 5 as freshman Maggie Federhofer (St. Louis, Mo./Lutheran South) picked up a 6-2, 6-2 win over Laural Royer. 

With her win, Behrle closes her collegiate career with a 70-22 record in singles and posted 59-30 mark in doubles, both of which are school records. This season, Behrle went 18-5 in singles and 15-6 in doubles as her and Watts teamed up to earn an 8-2 win on Saturday against Westminster in No. 1 doubles. 

Behrle's 19 singles wins this season are second most in single season history as only her 21 singles wins as a freshman in 2015 are better. 

Westminster's only singles win cam at No. 6 as Payton Beeler defeated senior Robin Bolme (Smyrna, Tenn./Blackman) in straight sets, 7-5, 6-1. 
 

ST. LOUIS - The Webster women's tennis team played played their final match of the 2017-18 season here Saturday afternoon in the championship match of the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament at Dwight Davis Tennis Center in Forest Park. 

The Gorloks worked hard to get to this point of the season as the last time they were SLIAC Champions was in 2015, and they were ready for another title. That dream came to fruition today, when the Gorloks faced off against Westminster College and walked away with a 5-3 win and the conference trophy.
 
Webster was the No. 1 seed going into the tournament, so they received a bye during the first round. In the second round, they defeated Principia College 5-0 on Friday. Westminster College also received a bye the first round and defeated Greenville University in their second round match. This set up a Webster vs. Westminster final. During the regular season, the Loks beat Westminster 6-3. Webster knew they were in for a tough fight, and they weren't disappointed.
 
In doubles, Westminster came out strong. They took two wins at No. 2 and No. 3. At No. 1, however, the Gorloks were victorious. Senior Monica Behrle (Atlanta, Ga./East Paulding) and junior Madison Watts (Rogersville, Mo./Logan Rogersville) have been steady all season, and they pulled through yet again. as they won their match, 8-2.
 
Webster was down 2-1 going into singles, meaning they had to win 4 of the 6 singles matches. They weren't worried, having been down 2-1 in their previous match against Westminster and walking away victorious.
 
"We really came into singles with a winning mindset and played aggressively," said Watts.
 
Behrle, playing at No. 1, snagged the first win, ending her match with a score of 6-1, 6-1. This was her last match of her collegiate tennis career. She will go down as one of the greats of Webster University tennis, holding records for the most wins in singles and in doubles.
 
The overall score was now tied at 2-2. At No. 6, senior Robin Bolme (Smyrna, Tenn./Blackman) played tough tennis against her opponent but ultimately lost 7-5, 6-1. This was Bolme's first season on the team and last match of her collegiate tennis career. She has improved greatly from her first day, and, even with the loss, is extremely proud of her season.
 
The score was now 3-2 in favor of Westminster, but freshman Maggie Federhofer (St. Louis, Mo./Lutheran South) at No. 5 wouldn't let that stand. She played aggressively to score a 6-2, 6-2 win and bring the overall score to 3-3.
 
Webster had to win the two of the remaining three matches to be SLIAC champions.

Senior Jesse Steffens-Willis (St. Louis, Mo./Rockwood Summit), playing at No. 3, got the next win. She won her first set 6-3 but then had a tough battle for the second. She and her opponent had long rallies, both refusing to back down. The set went to a tiebreaker, and that was when Steffens-Willis charged ahead. She quickly took control and won the tiebreaker 7-1 to give Webster their fourth win. Like Behrle and Bolme, this was her last match of her collegiate tennis career.
 
Now, the Gorloks needed only one more win. The remaining two players—Watts and junior Sara Rice (Mahomet, Il./Mahomet-Seymour)—were playing a third set. At No. 2, Watts had lost her first set in a tiebreaker but staged a spectacular comeback to win the second 6-4. She and her opponent were locked in a battle of aggressive strokes that had no end in sight.
 
At No. 4, Rice had won her first set 7-5 but struggled in the second, losing 6-2. She recollected her thoughts and focused on her shots, the championship on her racket. She gained all the momentum when she went up 4-3, and she never looked back. She took the next two games to win the third set 6-3. When her opponent's ball sailed out, she let out a scream of victory. The Gorloks ran in to hug their teammate. They were officially SLIAC champions.
 
"This was a very tough match both physically and mentally," Rice said after her win. "I knew that I had to play my part, and it was something that I was only able to do because my team had my back the whole time."
 
"I am so proud of this team for bringing the heat and playing some incredible tennis today," Rice added.
 
Webster head women's tennis coach Martha Davis-Goldstein was also extremely proud of her team after the match.
 
"Westminster played tough today, and we really had to earn this championship," she said. "I'm very proud of the effort this team had put into preparing for this day. This team played with trust, determination, and heart to seal the title."
 
Webster finished their season with a 12-5 record and undefeated in their conference. The championship trophy was a perfect end to the season, but the end was still bittersweet. For four seniors—Monica Behrle, Jesse Steffens-Willis, Robin Bolme, and Jordan Struckman (O'Fallon, Mo./Francis Howell)—this was their last season with Webster University.
 
"I'm so proud of every single person on this team," Behrle said. "We had some tough competition both mentally and physically throughout the season, and to see everyone put all of that on the side and come out today was incredible. I couldn't be prouder, and I'm happy to say that we caused a racket these past four years."
 
"This group of seniors started freshman year as conference champs and ended as conference champs," added Steffens-Willis. "I'm so proud of my team. It was not an easy win for me today, and dominating that tiebreak to end my career was a great way to go out."
 
This was Bolme's first and only season on the team, but the team made a lasting impression on her.
 
"Even though I only played one season of tennis, this is the most a part of a team that I ever felt," she said. "Even when losses happen, every single person is there to lift you up. I will truly miss being a part of such a great group of women who are such dedicated and hard-working individuals. I could not have asked for a better senior year and senior season."
 
Jordan Struckman was on the team for three years, stepping up when her team needed her most. While she didn't play in the championship match, she has been a valuable member of the team in every season that she has played.
 
"This is the most heart I've seen go into any season I've played for Webster," she said. "I'm so proud of my teammates. Our chapter on the women's tennis team ended on a great note."
 
Webster University says goodbye to these four amazing players, but also welcomes the new players that will join for the 2018-19 season and looks forward to the fantastic seasons to come. The legacy of these 2017-18 Gorloks will be in Webster's history books forever.