Women’s tennis splits Sunday doubleheader

MOUNT VERNON, Iowa -- The Simpson women's tennis team stepped away from American Rivers Conference play on Sunday for matches against Cornell and Wisconsin Lutheran.

To start the doubleheader, the Storm (4-3) won another close match, this time coming in 5-4 fashion over the Rams. To cap off the day, Simpson dropped a 6-3 contest to the Warriors (1-1).

Match One
Simpson 5, Cornell 4
The Storm maintained a 2-1 lead after doubles play against Cornell (1-3) for some early momentum. Anna Wanek and Emily King at No. 1 and the No. 2 duo of Megan Grubb and Kennedi Wright both won their matches, 8-3.

In singles play, the Rams knotted the match at 2-2 on the heels of a win at No. 6 singles to start individual play. Simpson rebounded with two straight victories to grab a 4-2 advantage. Wanek continued her unbeaten record this season with 6-3, 6-2 sets to clinch the match, while King nearly had the same output with 6-3, 6-1 sets for her fourth win.

Cornell flipped a switch to win two consecutive matches to lock the score at 4-4 with just the No. 5 singles match left to finish. Donni Kinghorn battled to win the opening set 6-4 and had another tough test the following set, but held on in a 7-5 set to clinch the match for Simpson.

Match Two
Wisconsin Lutheran 6, Simpson 3
King and Wanek grabbed an 8-3 win at No. 1 doubles for their fifth victory as a pair this year for the team's only doubles triumph this match. Aubrey Ocheltree made her first doubles appearance this fall by teaming up with Lorin Miller in the No. 3 slot.

Wanek added to her win column once again with her seventh victory after a 6-1, 6-1 match. Kinghorn moved to the No. 4 singles spot for the first time this season and walked away with a win.

Up Next
After four straight matches away from home, Simpson will host Grand View on Tuesday for a 4 p.m. match.

Simpson 5, Cornell 4
Singles competition
1. Anna Wanek (SIM) def. Liv Aractingi, 6-3, 6-2
2. Emily King (SIM) def. Emmaline Fievet, 6-3, 6-1
3. Noelle Cerone (CCW) def. Megan Grubb, 6-2, 6-2
4. Amanda Dragon (CCW) def. Kennedi Wright, 6-2, 6-2
5. Donni Kinghorn (SIM) def. Ashley Mink, 6-4, 7-5
6. Makayla Johnson (CCW) def. Aubrey Ocheltree, 6-2, 6-0

Doubles competition
1. Anna Wanek/Emily King (SIM) def. Emmaline Fievet/Noelle Cerone, 8-3
2. Megan Grubb/Kennedi Wright (SIM) def. Liv Aractingi/Amanda Dragon, 8-3
3. Ashley Mink/Natalie Brandt (CCW) def. Donni Kinghorn/Lorin Miller, 8-2

Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (6,1,2,3,4,5)

Wisconsin Lutheran 6, Simpson 3
Singles competition
1. Anna Wanek (SIM) def. Hartfield, Kaytlyn, 6-1, 6-1
2. Medema, Gabrielle (WLC) def. Emily King, 6-3, 6-3
3. Smith, Jena (WLC) def. Kennedi Wright, 6-4, 6-0
4. Donni Kinghorn (SIM) def. Hawley, Izzy, 6-2, 6-2
5. Pope, Sky (WLC) def. Aubrey Ocheltree, 6-0, 6-0
6. Choi, Christina (WLC) def. Lorin Miller, 6-0, 6-0

Doubles competition
1. Anna Wanek/Emily King (SIM) def. Hartfield, Kaytlyn/Pope, Sky, 8-0
2. Smith, Jena/Hawley, Izzy (WLC) def. Donni Kinghorn/Kennedi Wright, 8-6
3. Medema, Gabrielle/Choi, Christina (WLC) def. Aubrey Ocheltree/Lorin Miller, 8-0

Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (1,5,6,2,3,4)