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Oct. 17, 2008Baehr leads Dutch league meet advance
CEDAR RAPIDS—Central College senior Hilary Baehr (Des Moines, Roosevelt HS) advanced to the semifinals of Flight A singles at the Iowa Conference women’s tennis tournament Friday and the Dutch placed two teams in the Flight A doubles semifinals.
Baehr and Stephanie Gibbons (sophomore, Ankeny) and the team of Faith Bliss (junior, Ottumwa) and Kayla Donner (Metamora, Ill.) each advanced in doubles and will receive all-conference honors, which go to the top four finishers in singles and doubles. The league’s top 25 players were placed in Flight A singles while Flight A doubles included the top 14 duos.
In singles Baehr received a first-round bye, then knocked off Cornell’s Kendall Bielinski 6-4, 6-3 and last year’s third-place finisher, Coe’s Hillary Allen, 4-6, 6-3, 1-0 (5). She’ll take on Luther’s Kelsie Allen in the semifinals Saturday morning. Coe’s Hannah Jensen, last year’s runner-up, and Wartburg’s Molly Eslick are in the other semifinal.
Central had three other A Flight entries but came away with just one win. Donner outlasted Breann Billiet of Loras 6-3, 6-7 (4), 1-0 (7) before being sidelined by Jensen 6-0, 6-2.
Bliss was ousted by Luther’s Katie Nichols 7-6 (1), 6-4 and Gibbons fell to Alejandra Ruales of Loras, 4-6, 6-4, 1-0 (7).
In doubles, Bliss and Donner scored an 8-4 victory over Bielinski and Caryl Abeyta of Cornell, then ousted Fran Fairfield and Cami Czech of Luther, 8-6. They’ll meet Jensen and Katy Delagardelle of Coe in the semifinals Saturday.
Baehr and Gibbons eliminated Jessica Nims and Jill Berner of Simpson 8-6, then defeated Devin Harmon and Kirsten Lasley of Cornell 8-3. They’ll take on Allen and Brynne Zinneker of Luther Saturday.
Coach Bryan Mours was excited to see Baehr shine in her final league individual tourney.
“Hilary had a fantastic day,” he said. “To see her be all-conference in both singles and doubles is a wonderful accomplishment. As far as tomorrow, the sky’s the limit for her, she’s playing so well right now.”
Mours said there were numerous other Dutch standouts, including Gibbons, who sustained an eye injury in her 4-6, 6-4, 1-0 (7) singles loss but came back to help win two doubles matches.
“She could have packed it in but she wanted to come back,” Mours said.
He cited Bliss and Donner as well.
“Faith Bliss has battled injuries all year but she gutted it out in the doubles matches today,” he said. “And for Kayla Donner to be all-conference as a freshman is terrific.
“This is a testament to all the hard work the players have put in. And our schedule, playing the tough competition day in and day out, that’s what’s putting us in this position.”
Flights B and C—Central freshman Emily Swartz (Eldora, South Hardin HS) advanced to the Flight B singles semifinals. She defeated Luther’s Anna Yarbrough 6-4, 6-0 and Simpson’s Jackie Suckow 6-4, 6-4. She’ll meet Luther’s Katie Patterson Saturday. Katie Williamson (sophomore, Pella) and Laura Bade (senior, Boone) each won one match before being sidelined.
In Flight B doubles, Swartz and Williamson advanced to the quarterfinals along with the duo of Laura Bade (senior, Boone) and Brigitte Newman (sophomore, Albia) and the team of Carissa Bane (sophomore, Des Moines, Southeast Polk HS) and Trinh Le (freshman, Des Moines, North HS).
In Flight C singles, Newman moved on to the quarterfinals.
Play was slowed as the tourney was moved indoors due to cold, wet weather.