On a roll

After wrapping up the first-half of the spring semester, the women’s tennis team (12-1) packed their bags and flew to Central Florida to put their nine-match winning streak on the line.
The Thunder first squared off with Division II opponent Minnesota State Mankato (4-6) on the afternoon of Wednesday, March 8. The Thunder faced a 2-1 deficit heading into singles play, but quickly found their rhythm as they swept through all six singles matches. The Thunder finished on top with a 7-2 decision.
The same dominant performance carried on against Coe College (12-4) the next day. After giving up the first doubles, the Thunder bounced back by taking the last two doubles, courtesy of the team of junior Miranda Kay and sophomore Sarah Magnuson as well as senior Ann-Katherine Barrett and freshmen Claire Browning. Led by senior Emily Jones and junior Kirstie White, Wheaton won five of the six singles matches to overcome Coe with a 7-2 decision.
Wheaton’s final opponent was John Carroll University (3-6). John Carroll delivered the first blow winning the first doubles, but Wheaton quickly responded with Kay and Magnuson’s 8-4 and Barrett and Browning’s 8-5 decision to grab a 2-1 lead heading into singles. John Carroll countered with three consecutive singles wins to regain a 4-2 lead. The Thunder tied the match up 4-4 after Magnuson and Westwick’s stellar singles play. The match concluded with Browning dropping to a fiercely competitive decision of 6-1, 2-6, 10-5. Ultimately, Wheaton dropped the 5-4 decision.
After their performance in Florida, White said, “It was a magical time full of team bonding, great competition, excellent food, and lots of Harry Potter.” The Thunder arrived back in Wheaton, looking forward to their next matchup in Indiana against Saint Mary’s College on March 24.