Defending Midwest Conference champion Grinnell College and Beloit College defeated the Prairie Fire in matches played September 10 and 11.

Grinnell (3-0, 1-0 MWC South) downed Knox 9-0 at Grinnell in the MWC South Division opener for both schools. 

Sophomore Charlotte Garvin (Omaha, Nebraska) played the closest match in her #3 singles competition against the Pioneers' Laura Krull.  Garvin made Krull work for a 7-5 win in the first set before dropping the second set 6-2.

Garvin and senior Megan Funk (Springfield, Missouri) lost in #1 doubles play 8-4 to Grinnell's Constanza Alacon and Clothilde Thirouin.

The Prairie Fire hosted and lost 8-1 to Beloit College (5-1) the next day at the Merdian Tennis Courts.  Knox took the Buccaneers to three sets in six of the singles matches and came away with a victory in one of them.

Garvin defeated Alex Hinck in #3 singles play.  Hinck won the first set 6-3 before Garvin came back to claim the next two 6-3, 10-3.

Also going to three sets were senior Jordan Kuban (Greeley, Colorado) in #2 singles play and junior Emily Tyl (Downers Grove, Illinois) in #5 singles.

Beloit swept the #1-3 doubles competition.

The Prairie Fire (0-3, 0-1 MWC South) hosts two matches on September 17.  The first is at 9:00 a.m. against St. Norbert College followed by a conference match at 3:00 p.m. against Monmouth College.