Women's Tennis | 4/16/2016 10:47:00 PM
Concordia Results
Alverno Results
In one of the most exciting and prolific afternoons in the recent history of North Park women's tennis, the Vikings showcased quite possibly their most dominant performance of the season by defeating Alverno College in a 9-0 sweep, the first for NP in its young history, and a 5-4 win over Concordia University Wisconsin in Mequon, Wisconsin.
"This was the kind of day we have been working hard for," Vikings' head coach Karl Clifton-Soderstrom said. "Four sets of matches, upwards of five to six hours of playing, and they stayed strong and fought hard until the end."
Their toughest competition of day was against CUW, who currently sits atop the Northern Athletics Conference with a 10-0 record. Although NP fell in two of the three doubles matches, they rebounded at singles competition by taking four of the six matches, including a spirited win for No. 1 singles player Jasmine Madrid who outlasted the Falcons' top player Ashley Solberg by scores of 1-6, 6-1, 1-0 (10-8).
"Jasmine and (Juviel Vinluan – No. 5 singles) both lost their first sets, but adjusted their game, diversified their offensive tactics, and came back to win in three sets," Clifton-Soderstrom said.
The deciding match came down No. 3 doubles with the duo of Lisa Daniels and McKenzie Harrison who upended their opponents by a 9-8 (7-5) score.
"Our team has been working specifically on doubles this spring and we are starting to see the results," Clifton-Soderstrom said. "More aggressive play at the net and higher percentage shots from the baseline were key."
Against Alverno, five of the six singles matches went straight sets with No. 2 singles player Vilde Olvin producing the foremost outing with a 6-0, 6-0 win.
"Vilde was incredible," Clifton-Soderstrom said. "She played extremely well and definitely helped carry us."
At No. 1 singles, Madrid dropped the first set 3-6 to NAC Player of the Year Asia Neo-Butler, but bounced back to earn the next two sets 7-5 and 10-7.
"Her tenacity, and sheer will to win helped her to triumph. "Our team played some of their best tennis all day in the final hours of the afternoon," Clifton-Soderstrom said.  "Vilde continued to dominate with a near perfect baseline game and Marlee McCabe had a decisive 6-1, 6-1, match. They were real Vikings today!"
North Park returns to action this afternoon when it hosts Lake Forest College for a 2:30 p.m. contest.
