Seniors Grace Dowling and Christi Valicenti were unable to add to their program record victory totals on Senior Day as the Forester women's tennis team was downed 9-0 by visiting Carthage College on Sunday.
Valicenti and Dowling, who rank first and second, respectively, in team history in singles, doubles, and overall victories were honored along with their parents before their final career home match. The only two women's tennis players in school history with at least 100 career wins were then edged out 8-6 at #1 doubles.
The score at #2 doubles was also close as freshman Allison Watts and junior Lucia Stumbras were defeated 9-7.
Ranked 15th in the Central Region, Carthage won all six singles matches in more convincing fashion. Dowling's 6-2, 6-4 loss at #2 was the closest of the six.
Both teams are now 15-8 this season.
The Foresters, who clinched this year's Midwest Conference championship with their 9-1 league record in the fall, will compete in the four-team MSC Tournament in Madison, Wisconsin, next Friday. Lake Forest will face fourth-seeded Carroll University in the morning with the winner advancing to the afternoon final against either Grinnell College or St. Norbert College. The tournament champion will earn the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament.