ST. PETER, Minn. – Top-seeded Kathryn Schmidt (So./Hopkins, Minn.) of Carleton College did not lose a set as she captured the singles title at the three-day Wilson/ITA Midwest Regional Tournament. She advances to play in the ITA National Small College Championships from Oct. 15-18 in Mobile, Ala.
Results of all matches involving Carleton players
After winning the first set of her semifinal match against Gustavus’ Ali O’Neal in convincing fashion, 6-0, the Knights’ top performer rallied from a 5-1 deficit in the second set by winning six consecutive games to claim the set and the match. In the finals, Schmidt dispatched of Sam Frank from Gustavus by scores of 6-4 and 6-1.
In her first collegiate compeition a year ago, Schmidt advanced to the quarterfinals of this same tournament. This time she was able to cruise through the 67-player field and became the first Knight tennis player (male or female) to earn the ITA Regional crown since Sarah Russell and Amanda Santa Romana won the doubles title in 2003.
In the doubles draw, it was once again an all Carleton-Gustavus affair with Schmidt and Erin Gudul (So./North Oaks, Minn./Mounds View) carrying the target as the top seed. The pair advanced to the semifinals in the bracket for the second straight year. Unfortunately, Schmidt was unable to work her magic in a third straight match on Sunday, and Carleton came up just short, 8-6, versus Megan Gaard and O’Neal.
In the other semifinal, the Knights’ Frances Leung (Sr./Oakland, Calif./Bishop O’Dowd) and Bridget Doyle (Mendota Heights, Minn.) lost 8-2 to second seed and eventual champions Sierra Krebsbach and Frank of Gustavus.
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DAY TWO RECAP
After two days of action at the ITA Midwest Regional, it’s down to Carleton and Gustavus in both the singles and doubles draws. Top seeded Kathryn Schmidt and three Gusties have advanced to play the semifinals of the singles bracket on Sunday morning. Following the conclusion of that competition, Carleton and Gustavus will meet in both semis of the doubles tournament, where Schmidt and Erin Gudul are the top seed.
Day two started with three Knights playing in the third round, but soon Schmidt was the lone Carleton player standing after winning a pair of matches in straight sets. Frances Leung fell in straight sets and Bridget Doyle lost in three sets to No. 3 Sierra Krebsbach -- 6-1, 5-7, 6-4.
Carleton’s day in doubles went as good as possible with both pairings advancing to the semifinals. Schmidt and Gudul cruised through their second-round contest, then dispatched of No. 5 seeded Kalla Schaefer and Michelle Daciolas of Wisconsin-Whitewater by an 8-5 score.
It’s more of a surprise to some that Doyle and Leung are still alive as the pair knocked off third-seeded Andrea Schupbach and Michelle Schupbach from Coe College, 8-2, in the quarterfinals.
The Wilson/ITA Women's Division III Championships at Gustavus features 19 of the top schools in the region. The singles and doubles champions from this weekend's tournament advance to the Oct. 15-18 Intercollegiate Tennis Association National Small College Championships at the Copeland-Cox Tennis Center in Mobile, Alabama.
Eighty of the top singles and doubles players in the Midwest took part in the tournament.
DAY ONE RECAP
Despite rainy weather that forced most matches indoors, the Carleton College women’s tennis team opened the 2009-10 season with a solid opening day of action at the ITA Midwest Regional. Three of the four Carleton players participating in the singles draw advanced to the third round, including top seed Kathryn Schmidt. The Knights also won both of their doubles matches on day one.
Schmidt dropped a combined three games in cruising to straight set wins over Jenna Richardson of Augustana College (6-0, 6-0) and Hollis McPeak of Carthage College (6-2, 6-1).
Frances Leung prevailed in her play-in match before winning her first round contest against Leana Nelson of Wartburg College. In the second round, Leung dropped the opening set to No. 9 seeded Beth Larson of Lawrence University but came back to win 1-6, 6-4, 10-6.
Rookie Bridget Doyle cruised to an opening 6-1, 6-1 victory over Claire Carlson of St. Olaf before she was pushed to brink by Ingrid Stensvaag from UW-Whitewater. The youngest of the four Knights competing this weekend battled to win in three sets, 4-6, 6-2, 10-6.
Erin Gudul swept her opening round opponent but was later bounced by No. 5 seed Andrea Schupbach of Coe College, 7-5, 6-3.
Schmidt and Gudul, the top-seeded doubles pairing, posted an 8-2 triumph over Molly Estrick and Leanna Nelson of Wartburg in round one. Doyle and Leung got past Kylie Huether and Katie Rudnitski from St. Benedict by an 8-5 score.
Results of matches with Carleton participants.
ITA Singles Draw
Play-In Round
Frances Leung (Carleton) defeated Erika Zevin (Beloit) -- 6-0, 6-1
First Round – Friday
#1 Kathryn Schmidt (Carleton) defeated Jenna Richardson (Augustana) -- 6-0, 6-0
Frances Leung (Carleton) defeated Leana Nelson (Wartburg) -- 6-2, 6-1
Bridget Doyle (Carleton) defeated Claire Carlson (St. Olaf) -- 6-1, 6-1
Erin Gudul (Carleton) defeated Katie McDonald (UW-La Crosse) -- 6-2, 7-5
Second Round – Friday
#1 Kathryn Schmidt (Carleton) defeated Hollis McPeak (Carthage) -- 6-2, 6-1
Frances Leung (Carleton) defeated #9 Beth Larson (Lawrence) -- 1-6, 6-4, 10-6
Bridget Doyle (Carleton) defeated Ingrid Stensvaag (UW-Whitewater) -- 4-6, 6-2, 10-6
#5 Andrea Schupbach (Coe) defeated Erin Gudul (Carleton) -- 7-5, 6-3
Third Round - Saturday
#1 Kathryn Schmidt (Carleton) defeated #9 Anna Smith (UW-Whitewater) -- 6-2, 7-5
Michelle Daciolas (UW-Whitewater) defeated Frances Leung (Carleton) -- 6-3, 6-4
#3 Sierra Krebsbach (Gustavus) defeated Bridget Doyle (Carleton) -- 6-1, 5-7, 6-4
Quarterfinals - Saturday
#1 Kathryn Schmidt (Carleton) defeated Marianne Barau (Gustavus) -- 6-1, 6-1
Semifinals - Sunday, 9:00am
#1 Kathryn Schmidt (Carleton) defeated Ali O'Neal (Gustavus) -- 6-0, 7-5
Finals - Sunday, 11:00am
#1 Kathryn Schmidt (Carleton) defeated Sam Frank (Gustavus) -- 6-4, 6-1
ITA Doubles Draw
First Round - Friday
#1 Kathryn Schmidt/Erin Gudul (Carleton) def.
Molly Estrick/Leanna Nelson (Wartburg) -- 8-2
Frances Leung/Bridget Doyle (Carleton) def.
Kylie Huether/Katie Rudnitski (St. Benedict) -- 8-5
Second Round - Saturday
#1 Kathryn Schmidt/Erin Gudul (Carleton) defeated
Lauren Post/Kelly Van Handel (St. Norbert) -- 8-2
Frances Leung/Bridget Doyle (Carleton) defeated
Katie Allen/Marianne Barau (Gustavus) -- 8-4
Quarterfinals – Saturday
#1 Kathryn Schmidt/Erin Gudul (Carleton) defeated
#5 Kalla Schaefer/Michelle Daciolas (UW-Whitewater) -- 8-5
Frances Leung/Bridget Doyle (Carleton) defeated
#3 Andrea Schupbach/Michelle Schupbach (Coe) 8-2
Semifinals – Sunday, 1:00pm
#5 Megan Gaard/Ali Oneal (Gustavus) defeated
#1 Kathryn Schmidt/Erin Gudul (Carleton) -- 8-6
#2 Sierra Krebsbach/Sam Frank (Gustavus) defeated
Frances Leung/Bridget Doyle (Carleton) -- 8-2
