NAPERVILLE, Ill. -- Following a strong start to their fall season and a five-match winning streak, the Vikings headed to Naperville to take on the two-time defending conference champions, North Central College. Knowing they had a tall task ahead of them facing the top team in the conference, the Vikings started the day with three doubles matches.
In doubles, the hard-hitting Cardinals pushed the Vikings back on their heels. #2 and #3 doubles teams could not gain the upper hand against their opponents. #1 doubles, however, kept up a tight match against North Central's best. Hanna Zethreus and Marie Fuehrer battled hard, trading service games and winning points with Zethreus's solid baseline game and Fuehrer's aggressive net play. In the end, North Central bested the doubles team, and took an early 3-0 point lead in the team competition.
Singles started off strong for the Vikings, with the early games showing promise for a closer match. North Central, however, was able to close down any deuce games, and went ahead in all six singles matches. #1 singles, Carla Cazes, fought hard in a spirited competition, but went down in the 2nd set with a knee injury and had to forfeit the rest of the match.
In the coming week, North Park has a break from conference play and will send three competitors to the ITA regional tournament in St. Louis. The rest of the team takes on McHenry Community college at home next Saturday.
