Box score

GALESBURG, Illinois – The Prairie Fire women's tennis team didn't come out on top in Midwest Conference play against Illinois College, but the contest on Tuesday was very much a win in another way.

Knox, playing its final home match of the fall season, fell to IC 7-2.  Sophomore Kaly Davidson (Needham, MA, Needham) won her #6 singles match 6-3, 6-0 and the Prairie Fire's #1 doubles team of first-years Taytem Chapman (Lincoln, NE, Lincoln East) and Miranda Corbett (Algonquin, IL, Jacobs) prevailed in #1 doubles 8-4 against the Lady Blues.

The match marked the home finale of the fall season for Knox, and some special helpers were on hand to assist as the ball boy and girl.

The team is volunteering this fall in the Build Our Kids Success (BOKS) before-school fitness program at Gale Elementary School in Galesburg.

Prairie Fire head coach Miriam Skrade said Corbett and Davidson had helpers.  "Miranda had Esther Gibb and Kaly – who won her first college tennis match – had Easton Steck."

Skrade said having Easton and Esther at courtside for the matches fulfilled the vision of the Knox tennis and Gale Elementary connection.

"We've been going to Gale three mornings a week for four weeks now and loving the experience. The tennis team members take turns as the lead instructors while the others jump in and play with the students. Each week they play a warm-up game (e.g. freeze tag), teach a fitness skill (e.g. plank, sit-ups), do a cardio activity (e.g. relay races, hopscotch), then cool down while we teach them about sportsmanship or nutrition. Now was our chance to invite a few of the older ones to our last home tennis match," Skrade added.

The players appreciated the help on game-day, and are enjoying the relationships they've formed with the children.

"It's so great to have the opportunity to form connections with the kids in BOKS and help them get involved with the sport I love," Corbett said.

Davidson agreed.

"It was really cool of Easton and Esther to come and support us while shagging tennis balls," she said.  "I love volunteering at BOKS because I get to begin my day learning something and having fun.  I hope they had fun volunteering for us today."

Easton also had a good time.  "It was fun and exciting getting to be out there on the courts. After watching the matches and then playing with some friends, it made me want to learn to play tennis."

Esther explained what she likes about the Build Our Kids Success program.  "I think BOKS is awesome!  I have met lots of new faces.  I like doing exercises in the morning.  Some of the stretches has helped me too.  I like the leaders too, they are REALLY fun!  I want BOKS to last forever," she said. 

Knox plays its nine remaining fall regular season matches away from home.  The Prairie Fire travel to Davenport, Iowa on Saturday for a pair of non-conference matches against Loras College (12:00 p.m.) and St. Ambrose University (3:00 p.m.).