Hilary Baehr Oct. 18, 2008

Baehr places in singles, doubles

CEDAR RAPIDS—Hilary Baehr (senior, Des Moines, Roosevelt HS) placed in the top threein both singles and doubles at the Iowa Conference women’s individual tennis tournament, and another Central College doubles team placed fourth Saturday. After winning her first two matches Friday, Baehr fell to Luther’s Kelsie Allen 6-2, 6-0 in her semifinal match Saturday. Baehr then beat Molly Eslick of Wartburg for third place 6-1, 7-6 (2).

“Hilary (Baehr) played a phenomenal second half of the season,” said head coach Bryan Mours. “I’m so proud and happy for her, it’s good to see her get some fruits for her labors this season.”

Two Central teams advanced to the doubles semifinals where the Dutch’s No. 1 team of Faith Bliss (junior, Ottumwa) and Kayla Donner (freshman, Metamora, Ill.) fell 8-5 to Coe’s Hannah Jensen and Katy Delagardelle. Central’s No. 2 team of Baehr and Stephanie Gibbons (sophomore, Ankeny) were 8-6 winners in the semifinals over Brynne Zinecker and Kelsie Allen of Luther.

Bliss and Donner took fourth place and Baehr and Gibbons went home with second.

“It was great for us to have two doubles teams in the semifinals,” said Mours. “Faith (Bliss) and Kayla (Donner) really played well for us at the end of the season, and Hilary (Baehr) and Stephanie (Gibbons) really came on in the tournament. I think it really goes to show their resolve to finish this well even though they only played No. 2 for us this season.”

A second-place singles finish in Flight B for Emily Swartz (freshman, Eldora, South Hardin HS) and a Flight B doubles first place finish for Swartz and Katie Williamson (sohpmore, Pella) gave the Dutch five top-four finishers.

“Seeing these players every day I know the talent and the capabilities they have,” Mours said. “It was the first time we got the maximum effort and performance out of all 14 players. It was great.”

Central closed the fall season with a 10-8-1 dual record, and a third-place Iowa Conference team finish.