Box Score

Lake Bluff, IL – The Prairie Fire suffered their first conference loss of the season against Lake Forest College in a match that was delayed nearly five hours because of the weather.

The Foresters, who entered the match unbeaten, defeated Knox 8-0.  The teams were scheduled to get started at 3:30 p.m. outdoors, but rain prompted a move indoors to the Racquet Club of Lake Bluff at 8:00 p.m.

Lake Forest and Grinnell College are currently in the driver's seat for the two spots from the MWC South Division in the conference team championships later this month in Madison, Wisconsin.  The Foresters (7-0, 1-0 MWC South) and the Pioneers (7-2, 3-0 MWC South) square off on October 12 in Grinnell, Iowa.

Grinnell and Knox (3-8, 2-1 MWC South) also meet on October 12 at 3:30 p.m. on the Pioneers' home court.  The Prairie Fire play two matches that day as well, the first one an important contest at Cornell College (3-7, 1-1 MWC South) at 10:00 a.m.

Senior Dana Pierce (Barrington, IL, Barrington) had the closest match of the evening playing #2 singles for Knox.  She fell to the Foresters' Christi Valicenti 6-4, 6-3.

Pierce and her teammates are not hanging their heads.

"It was a tough match, but we kept each others' spirits up by cheering across the courts," she said.  "A lot of girls stepped up today, and we definitely had fun doing it.  Go Fire!"

Coach Miriam Skrade said Pierce played well following a determined week of practice.

"She was effective at pushing her opponent deep in the court and stepping up into an all-court player.  Her game is on the rise and I'm looking forward to seeing her face off against Cornell and Grinnell next week."

The teams did not play #1 doubles because of the time and Lake Forest had already won by decision.

Sophomore Derinn Wallace (Springfield, IL, Glenwood) gained valuable varsity experience by playing in her first match in the #6 singles position against Lake Forest.

"I was nervous but I ended up having a lot of fun despite going up against some really tough competition.  I was not the better player, but I did get better by playing against some really good girls," Wallace said.  "Cheering for my teammates and hearing them cheer for me was probably the best part of playing.  I'll never forget my first varsity competition for the Prairie Fire."

Skrade said she's proud of how the players carried themselves and competed.

"Charlotte Garvin (Omaha, NE, Central) had a surprise today having to face off (in #1 singles) against a former NCAA Division I player from the University of Illinois (Sarah Paulson).  She stayed competitive and forced her opponent to hit big shots in order to win," Skrade said.  "As a team we made the most of being without some key varsity players and an unfortunate five hour rain delay.  The women played as a team, cheering one another on and celebrating great gets and assertive shots."

The Prairie Fire's visit to Grinnell on October 12 marks the final regular season dual of the fall season before the Midwest Conference Team Championships on October 18.

The MWC Doubles Championships are on October 19 and the MWC Singles Championships on October 20 at the Nielsen Tennis Stadium at the University of Wisconsin – Madison.

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