MOUNT VERNON, IA – The Cornell College women's tennis team picked up a pair of Midwest Conference victories Saturday, defeating #62 Luther College, 5-2, in the morning before sweeping Ripon College, 7-0, in the afternoon. The Rams improve to 7-2 overall and 3-1 in Midwest Conference play following the two wins.
Cornell opened the day with a 5-2 victory over Luther, earning the doubles point behind wins from Michaela Clark and Mac Graves at No. 1 doubles and Emmie Kinder and Annika Dox at No. 2 doubles. Clark, Graves, Kinder and Jenna Benkufsky each added singles victories, with Graves battling back after dropping the opening set at No. 2 singles to win 4-6, 6-2, 6-2.
Clark continued her strong day at the top of the lineup, earning a straight-set 6-2, 6-1 victory at No. 1 singles against Luther. Kinder also posted a 6-2, 6-1 win at No. 4 singles, while Benkufsky completed a 6-0, 6-0 victory at No. 6 singles.
The Rams returned to the courts in the afternoon and delivered a dominant performance against Ripon, winning all nine matches in a 7-0 sweep. Cornell quickly secured the doubles point as Kinder/Dox, Clark/Kortney Travis and Mirabel Pinkerton/Megan Bruns all earned victories.
Cornell carried that momentum into singles play, winning all six matches. Kinder led the way with a 6-1, 6-1 victory at No. 1 singles, while Benkufsky, Dox, Isabella Wallin and Meredith Maxwell each won in straight sets. At No. 4 singles, Travis provided one of the day's most competitive matches, rallying from a first-set loss to defeat Emily Bittinger, 4-6, 6-3, 10-4.
The Rams have now won four of their last five matches and sit at 3-1 in MWC play.
Coming up: Cornell will close out the weekend Sunday when it hosts Grinnell College at 2 p.m.
