Box Score

Pella, IA – The Prairie Fire came up short in their season-opening match at Central College on Saturday.

The Dutch prevailed 9-0 while Knox got more out of the contest than the score might indicate.  "Central is one of the toughest matches on our schedule and I was pleased with how our women stepped up," said Prairie Fire coach Miram Skrade.

The teams battled through the hot and humid weather during doubles play before moving inside for the singles matches. 

Knox's #1 doubles team of seniors Charlotte Garvin (Omaha, NE, Central) and Dana Pierce (Barrington, IL, Barrington) lost a close 8-6 decision.  Senior Emiley Brand (Princeton, IL, Princeton) and junior Claire Neri (Melrose Park, IL, West Leyden), teaming up at #2 doubles, also played well in an 8-5 setback.

Garvin and Brand both won sets in their singles matches. 

Garvin opened with a 6-3 triumph against her #1 singles opponent Angie Allgood.  Central's Allgood won the second set 6-3 before claiming the match with a 10-5 decision.

Brand squared off against Anna Bowser in #3 singles.  Bowser won the first set 6-1 before Brand rebounded to take the second set 6-2.  Brand, like Garvin, refused to go down without a fight as Bowser eventually came out on top 10-6 in the third set.

"Emiley and Charlotte surprised their opponents and took decisive sets.  It was great to see them play high in the line-up and have highly competitive matches against a strong Iowa Conference team," Skrade said.

Meanwhile, Brand and Garvin took a lot out of their competitive matches.

"Personally I think this match tested my mental toughness, and even though the score wasn't in my favor, I learned a lot as a player today," Brand said.

"What we learned from (Coach Skrade) during the preseason has prepared us for the physical and mental battles we fought today," Garvin said.  "Only improvement is to come."

Next up for the Prairie Fire is a trip to the University of Dubuque on September 4.  The match against the Spartans is scheduled to start at 4:00 p.m.

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