Oct. 20, 2007

Dutch finish third

IOWA CITY—Seniors Jenn Knobbe (Carroll, Kuemper HS) and Katie Moklestad (senior, Boone) provided the Central College women’s tennis team with victories in must-win matches against Wartburg College to give the squad a third-place finish in the Iowa Conference tournament Saturday.  

After falling to Luther in the semifinals 5-0, Central (11-4) needed singles wins from Knobbe and Moklestad, respectively, in singles matches after falling behind 4-3 to Wartburg. Knobbe won her match against Emily Heying 6-3, 4-6, 1-0 (12-10).

“Jenn pulled out a huge match,” said first-year head coach Bryan Mours. “After she won, we quickly shifted our attention to Katie Moklestad’s match.”

Moklestad went on to finish her career with a 7-5, 7-6 (7-5) win over Mirela Bacevac to secure the third-place finish.

“Katie was pushed to the brink,” said Mours. “With her senior leadership and focus she was able to come out on top.”

Steph Gibbons (freshman, Ankeny) provided Central with its other singles win with a 6-4, 6-2 at No. 6.

The team of Knobbe and Faith Bliss (sophomore, Ottumwa) won 9-7 at No. 1 doubles and Hilary Baehr (junior, Des Moines, Roosevelt HS) and Whitney Visser (senior, Sioux Falls) provided an 8-5 win at No. 2 doubles.

“We played really well from the first point to the end of the match,” said Mours.

Mours was pleased his first Central team’s season.

“We really had a great year,” he said. “With the change of coaching and style, I thought the ladies handled it really well.”