Lakeland College’s Womens’ Tennis team, lead by Head Coach Casey Carr, started their 2012 campaign with a split of their first two matches of the season this past Saturday. After sweeping Rockford (Ill.), the lady-muskies lost their second match 8-1 to Edgewood College. Both opponents are fierce Northern Athletic Conference rivals.

On a highly successful day for the lady-muskies, some of the highlights included Senior April Schmitz, Lakeland’s no. 1 singles, defeating Jessica Sagalla of Rockford 6-1, 6-0 in her opener. She then lost to Morgan Wilson of Edgewood 6-0, 6-1 .

Freshman Lynn Pipke, Lakeland’s no. 2 singles, defeated Carla Ramirez of Rockford 6-0, 6-0. She then lost to Ellie Wilke of Edgewood 6-3, 6-2.

To further the Muskies’ winning ways, Junior Jenna Oberthaler, Lakeland’s no. 3 singles, defeated Alexis Ford of Rockford 6-2, 6-3.

Extending the Muskie dominence of Rockford, Junior Erica Hoffmann, Lakeland’s no.4 singles, swept Marah Erbe of Rockford 6-0, 6-0, and then lost to Kristen Boone of Edgewood in a tiebreaker 6-1, 3-6, 12-10.

Junior Brittany Jurek, Lakeland’s no. 5 singles, won both of her matches on the day, including Lakeland’s only victory against Edgewood when she defeated Rhea Bradley 6-3, 6-3.

Sophomore Alissa Stephani, Lakeland’s no. 6 singles, defeated Lyla Cao of Rockford, 6-0, 6-0.

Jurek and Hoffmann also defeated Ford and Erbe of Rockford in no. 2 doubles 8-0.

Overall, the Lakeland College Womens’ Tennis team had a solid day to kick off the season, filled with exciting and promising performances by multiple team members.

Catch them in action again on Wednesday when they travel to Wisconsin Lutheran College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Lutheran Warriors are the preseason favorites to win the conference according to the preseason coaches’ poll. No doubt the Muskies will be ready and willing to prove this honor a fallacy.