Lake Forest Sweeps Ripon and St. Norbert, Qualifies for MWC Tourney

Photo by Emily Baer
Photo by Emily Baer

Junior Tyranny Miller and sophomore Tebatso Duba were each 4-0 on Saturday as the Foresters posted 9-0 victories over Ripon College and St. Norbert College.

Lake Forest blanked Ripon on campus in the morning and an 8-1 triumph by Duba and Miller at #2 doubles followed 8-0 wins by junior Julie Lord and senior Leeza Bodnar atop the lineup and by juniors Grace Gould and Emma Wang at #3. The victory for Lord and Bodnar was the 49th of their careers as doubles partners, breaking the program record set by Miller and Allison Watts last season. 

Lord was ahead 6-0, 1-0 at #1 singles when her opponent retired and Miller took both sets 6-0 at #4 to clinch the match for the Foresters. Duba prevailed 6-0, 6-1 at #2, Bodnar defeated the Red Hawks #2 player 6-0, 6-2, and freshman Natalia Leite and sophomore Katie Wegrecki did not drop a game at #5 and #6, respectively.

The scores were a little closer in the match against St. Norbert, which was played indoors at LifeSport Tennis Club in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Lake Forest's doubles lineup was the same and the Green Knights were able to win just one game at #2, two and #1, and three at #3.

Lord made more history, finishing off St. Norbert's top player 6-2, 6-0 for her 47th career win at #1 singles, breaking her tie with Melika Celebic (2009-13) for the most in team history at that position. Bodnar then provided the clinching point with a 6-0, 6-3 victory at #3. Duba's 6-4, 6-2 win at #2 was the closest match of the day and was followed by a 6-1, 6-0 drubbing by Miller at #5. Wang won 6-1, 6-3 at #4 and Leite closed out the long day with a 6-2, 6-0 triumph at #6.

The Foresters improved to 10-1 overall and 7-1 in the Midwest Conference this season. They also clinched a spot in the four-team MWC Tournament for the 11th year in a row. Ripon fell to 2-8 overall and 1-6 in the league while St. Norbert is now 6-4 overall and 5-2 in the MWC.

Lake Forest will complete the conference portion of this year's schedule against Lawrence University at home on Sunday. The match is scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m.