Lake Forest box score
Carroll box score

GALESBURG, Illinois – Two Prairie Fire tried to shake up the conference standings and send the seniors out with wins in the last two regular season matches.  But Lake Forest College and Carroll University wouldn't bend as both squads defeated Knox on Saturday at the Merdian Tennis Courts.

Lake Forest and Carroll were vying for spots in the Midwest Conference team tournament that's slated for Friday, April 24, at Nielsen Tennis Stadium on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  The top four teams in the advance to the tourney to play for the MWC championship, with the winner receiving the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III tournament.

Lake Forest and Carroll stayed in the thick of the MWC race with a 9-0 wins against Knox.

Prior to the first match of the day against the Foresters, Prairie Fire head coach Miriam Skrade recognized seniors Walter Palmer (Wilmette, IL, New Trier) and Karl Ruzgas (Downers Grove, IL, Downers Grove North) for their fine four-year tennis careers.

Palmer and Ruzgas teamed up for an exceptional season in doubles play.  They entered the weekend with 16 total victories at #1 doubles this season, the second-most wins among all doubles teams in the Midwest Conference.  In addition, their .737 winning percentage -- based on a 14-5 record in dual meets -- led all #1 doubles teams in the MWC.

"I was proud to honor Walter and Karl.  They've both made significant contributions to the program," Skrade said.

Despite 8-6 and 8-5 losses to the #1 doubles teams from Lake Forest and Carroll, respectively, Palmer and Ruzgas still closed out the regular season with a solid 6-3 record against conference opponents.  Skrade noted they have a combined 94 career doubles wins, including 42 as partners.  With 10 singles wins apiece this year, Palmer and Ruzgas will look to make some noise at the conference tournament.

"Walter, with 90 career wins, has positioned himself among the top 10 all-time winningest players at Knox. Karl has taken the heat, competing in the top two spots in the lineup all four years, and has saved his winningest season for his final year. He's captured twice the number of singles wins of all his previous seasons," Skrade added.  "I'm looking forward to watching them play one last time at Nielsen, and am so grateful to have had the privilege to coach them."

After defeating Knox, the Foresters (13-11, 7-2) posted their third straight shutout victory at Illinois College later in the day and secured the #3 seed in the MWC team tournament behind #2 seed Monmouth College and top seeded Grinnell College.

The Prairie Fire played their third consecutive MWC team tournament qualifier in Carroll (11-10, 6-3), which nailed down the #4 seed.  The Pioneers prevailed 8-4 at #2 doubles took the #3 doubles match 8-3.  The most competitive singles clash was at #3 between first-year Ashwin Kushwaha (Rochester, MN, Mayo) and Quentin Lamers of Carroll.  Lamers fought off Kushwaha in the last match off 6-3, 7-5.

Skrade said everyone was grateful to have played the final regular season competitions at home.  "We had a great turnout of supporters and the team did their best to challenge two of the top teams in the conference."

The Prairie Fire will tune up for the Midwest Conference singles championships on Saturday and the doubles championships on Sunday.