Box Score SAINT PETER, Minn. - Cornell's women's tennis team hasn't had a player reach the ITA Midwest Regional Quarterfinals since the year 2000. Senior
Michaela Clark not only ended that drought, but did one better and became the first player in program history to reach the singles semifinal at the regional tournament.
The Rams had four players, seniors Clark and
Mac Graves, along with sophomore
Annika Dox, and freshman
Emmie Kinder compete at the regional event this weekend. Cornell finished 8-6 overall in their matches, highlighted by Clark's semifinal run.
Clark, seeded #5, opened her tournament in the round of 64 with a win of Carleton's Ryann Witter 6-2, 6-4. In Saturday's matches, Clark notched a round of 32 win over Addie Persian of Grinnell 6-2, 6-0. A round of 16 matchup with Ella De Young of host Gustavus, Clark prevailed with a strong 6-4, 6-1 win to become the first Cornell woman to reach the quarterfinals since Lindsey Pfalmer in 2000.
Sunday morning's quarterfinal was a rematch with Grinnell's Pari Chavan from last weekend's dual meet. Clark avenged last week's loss, and cruised to a 6-0, 6-1 triumph over the tournaments #3 seed. Clark's history-making run ended at the hands of the #1 seed and defending champion Karina Elvestrom from Gustavus, a 6-0, 6-0 scoreline.
Mac Graves, a #9 seed in the tournament, started with a bye. Graves reached the round of 32 for the first time in her career after a 6-4, 6-4 defeat of Reese Keller of UW-Eau Claire. Graves dropped her next match to Grinnell's #17 seed Luiza Kohn 6-3, 6-2.
Kinder secured a first round win in the round of 128, earning her first regional tournament win of her young career. She took down Beatriz Felchak of UW-Eau Claire 6-1, 6-4. In the round of 64, Kinder was narrowly edged by #17 seed Sophia Fain of Coe 4-6, 6-3, 10-7.
Dox also earned her first Midwest regional tournament win in her career win a tight opening round win over Isabella Tamburrino from Macalester, 5-7, 6-3, 10-6. Dox dropped her round of 64 match to Eliana Martin of Grinnell 6-0, 6-0.
In doubles, Clark and Graves a #5 seed, rolled to a first round win over Loras 8-0, before dropping the next match 8-4 to Gustavus. Dox and Kinder were defeated by Grinnell 8-0 in the opening round.
