Tennis nets wins at Wildcat invitational

Kathryn Sharples won two singles matches Sunday. Photo: Steve Woltmann

The women’s tennis team closed out competition Sunday at Northwestern’s Wildcat Invitational, hosted by Northwestern, producing three singles wins and going 1-1 in doubles.

“There were a lot of positives from the weekend.,” head coach Shannon Tully said.

“We played some aggressive doubles and are taking big strides there. We are working hard to execute in our singles matches and got some good wins over strong players from some of the top teams in the country.”

Jana Knoppe was 1-2 against her opponents in singles matches.  She fell in her first match against DePaul before dropping a 6-3, 6-1 decision to Illinois.  In the consolation bracket, Knoppe came away with a 1-6, 6-1, 6-2 win over NC State.

Kathryn Sharples led off her singles matches with a 6-5 (4), 6-5 (1) win over Kentucky and advanced to take down Wisconsin, 6-5 (3), 6-3, in another straight-set win.

Sharples and Knoppe competed in doubles. They earned a first-round bye, then fell to Princeton, 6-1, before coming back in an extra match to take a 6-4 win over NC State.

The Flames head to Rockford this week to compete in the ITA Second Chance Regional Friday through Sunday.