Close Match at Stephens Ends With Blue Jay Loss

Close Match at Stephens Ends With Blue Jay Loss

A close women's tennis match at Stephens College on Tuesday evening ended with a Westminster 5-4 loss to complete their 2015 regular season. The Westminster Blue Jays conclude regular season play with a 3-6 record. 

After doubles play, Stephens was sitting with a 2-1 advantage. The Blue Jays' doubles competition win came in the number three spot with juniors Jessica Klutts and Grace Sanford's 8-0 sweep. The freshman Payton Beeler and sophomore Ellen Woolsey duo in the number one spot and the sophomore Laura Kelly and junior Laura Wiltshire duo in the number two spot lost with scores of 8-2.

The Blue Jays and Stephens College came out even in singles play with each team winning three points. Kelly and her opponent in the number two singles spot went into a third set, and Kelly came out on top with the scores 6-3, 4-6 and 1-0 (5). Junior Jamie Striler and Sanford earned the other two points for the Blue Jays. Striler grabbed a 6-3 and 6-2 win in the five spot, and Sanford won 6-2 and 6-0 in the six spot.

Klutts lost in the one spot, 6-1, 6-1. In the number three spot, Woolsey challenged her opponent into three sets. She took the second set with a score of 7-5, but was unable to grab the set three win. Wiltshire fell in the number four spot with scores of 6-3 and 6-1.

The Blue Jays will now compete in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) Tournament starting on Friday, April 17. They enter the tournament in fourth place and face the fifth place Fontbonne Griffins at 11:00 p.m. on Friday.