Women's tennis starts season strong

The Simpson women's tennis team got the 2014 season started on the right foot with a pair of wins in the Land of Lincoln, beating Knox 8-1 in Galesburg and Monmouth 6-3.

Junior Kelli Ehrhardt and newcomers Jill Arduser, Cassidy Bierbrodt and Megan Bradley all went undefeated in singles play. The team of Bradley and Ehrhardt went a perfect 2-0 in doubles.

The Storm swept singles play in the first match of the day en-route to an easy win over Knox. Michelle Hartman won in straight sets at the No. 1 spot and Ehrhardt did the same at No. 2. Kelli Greiner battled to a 6-1, 3-6, 1-0 (10-3) win at No. 3 while Bradley, Arduser and Bierbrodt all won in straight sets at No. 4, 5 and 6, respectively.

Bradley and Ehrhardt beat Claire Neri and Miranda Corbett 8-3 at No. 2 doubles and the team of Arduser and Sidney Griffith topped Lauren Sparks and Mattie St. Clair by the same tally at No. 3.

Against Monmouth, the freshman trio gave Simpson a big boost in singles play. Bradley earned a 6-2, 6-3 win over Morgan Holle at No. 4, Arduser beat Amanda Buck 6-2, 6-1 at No. 5 and Bierborodt topped Cheyenne Goat 6-3, 6-0 at No. 6. Ehrhardt handled Annaliese McDermott 6-0, 6-2 at No. 2.

The Storm took 2 of 3 in doubles, getting wins from the team of Ehrhardt and Bradley at No. 2 and Katie Platts and Griffith at No. 3.

Game Notes - Simpson returns to action Thursday, Sept. 4 when it hosts Graceland in the home opener at 4 p.m. ... it took Simpson just one day to top last season's win total, as the Storm are coming off a one-win campaign in 2013.