Ansbach Clinches Win Over Red Raiders in Regular Season Finale
(Sioux City, IA) – Taking on Northwestern in their final GPAC match of the regular season, Hastings pulled out a narrow 4-3 win on Friday at the indoor First Serve Tennis Center, as junior Cara Ansbach clinched the match in a third set super-tiebreak, 11-9.
(Sioux City, IA) – Taking on Northwestern in their final GPAC match of the regular season, Hastings pulled out a narrow 4-3 win on Friday at the indoor First Serve Tennis Center, as junior Cara Ansbach clinched the match in a third set super-tiebreak, 11-9.
The Broncos almost swept the doubles point, as sophomore Lexi Benson and Ansbach won 6-2 at #2 doubles, then senior Paige Willcoxon and sophomore Kayleigh Cetak clinched the doubles point with a 6-3 win at #3 doubles. At #1 doubles, juniors Josline Carter and Victoria Harris lost 8-6 in a tiebreak, but Hastings still led 1-0 heading to singles.
Northwestern picked up a couple of wins at the top of the lineup, winning 6-3, 6-3 at #1 singles and 6-3, 7-5 at #2 singles. Benson earned a straight-set victory at #5 singles, defeating the Red Raiders, 7-5, 6-3, as the match was tied at two-all.
Willcoxon won 6-1 in the first set at #3 singles, but Northwestern rallied in the final two sets, winning 6-3 in the second and 7-5 in a close third set. Junior Abby Harveson lost 6-4 in the first set at #6 singles, then forced a third with a 7-5 second set win, leading to a 6-2 third set victory to tie the match score at three.
In the deciding match at #4 singles, Ansbach grabbed the early momentum with a 7-5 first set win. Northwestern bounced back, taking the second set, 6-3. Due to time constraints, the teams agreed to decide the match with a third set super-tiebreak. Ansbach trailed late and faced a match point, but fought it off and secured the 11-9 win to give Hastings the 4-3 match victory.
Up next, Hastings now will await the final regular season GPAC results to determine their postseason fate. The GPAC Tournament quarterfinals begin on Thursday, Apr. 23.
