backhand Sept. 9, 2008

Central rallies for 5-4 win

PELLA—A three-set victory by Katie Williamson (sophomore, Pella) at No. 5 singles lifted the Central College women’s tennis team past Simpson College 5-4 Tuesday.  

Simpson took two of the three doubles points and secured early victories at No. 3 and No. 6 singles before the Dutch rallied. Hilary Baehr (senior, Des Moines, Roosevelt HS), Kayla Donner (freshman, Metamora, Ill.) and Steph Gibbons (sophomore, Ankeny) won convincingly at Nos. 1, 2 and 4 singles before Williamson nailed down the victory.

"That was a great win for Katie,” coach Bryan Mours said. “She needed a win like that. It does a lot for her confidence. She really worked hard over the summer and this helps solidify her as a contender every time she steps on the court.”

Faith Bliss (junior, Ottumwa), who usually plays No. 2 singles, was held out of the lineup because of injury after earlier playing at No. 1 doubles.

“Faith would tell you she’s OK but the doubles match really showed she wasn’t 100 percent,” Mours said.

Mours was impressed with Central’s comeback.

After losing at No. 1 and 2 doubles, you really have to show some guts and get after it,” he said. “I said before the season started that our strength was singles and we showed that tonight.”

The Dutch are at home again this Saturday, playing host to Dubuque at 10 a.m. and Loras at 2 p.m. at the A.N. Kuyper Athletics Complex courts.

The start time for Central’s Sept. 22 match at St. Ambrose has been changed to 3:30 p.m. The match will be played at Assumption High School in Davenport.