Luther is Headed Back to the NCAAs for the Third Consecutive Year After AQ Tournament Win

4/30/2022 5:36:07 PM

WINONA, Minn. – After winning the regular-season championship back in the fall, the Luther women’s tennis team completed their second-consecutive double with today’s 5-0 NCAA AQ Tournament win against Coe. It was the Norse’s third-straight AQ title and their ninth overall.
 
The NCAA Division III Women’s Tennis Championship begins Friday, May 13 with first-round matches at pre-selected sites that will be announced this week. Luther won’t know their opponent until the full field is announced Monday, May 9.
 
Luther started well with convincing wins at all three doubles positions. Shelby Cook/Julia Moreno took the No. 1-doubles match, 8-5, over their Kohawk opponents. The No. 3 pair of Lexi Hastings/Renata Martinez put the next team point on the board with an 8-6 victory. Sofia Sackett/Ana Olimpio capped the sweep with an 8-3 win at No. 2.
 
Needing two wins in singles play, Julia Moreno made it 4-0 with a 6-1, 6-0 win at No. 3 singles. Cook provided the clincher at No. 4 singles, winning 6-0, 6-3.
 
Luther head coach Adam Strand brings his men’s team into the campus’ athletics valley tomorrow at 12:00p and 3:30p with a chance to win the regular-season championship. If the Norse defeat Buena Vista and Nebraska Wesleyan, they will host next weekend’s NCAA AQ Tournament for the A-R-C men.
 
RESULTS: Luther 5, Coe 0
Doubles:
  1. Shelby Cook/Julia Moreno (LUT) defeat Isabella Hoppenjans/Emma Lassen (COE), 8-5
  2. Sofia Sackett/Ana Olimpio (LUT) defeat Madison Schultz/Jania Johnson (COE), 8-3
  3. Lexi Hastings/Renata Martinez (LUT) defeat Eliza Sundermann/Claudia Bilkey (COE), 8-6
Singles:
  1. Sofia Sackett (LUT) v. Madison Schultz (COE), 4-6, 1-2, unfinished
  2. Renata Martinez (LUT) v. Isabella Hoppenjans (COE), 3-6, 3-0, unfinished
  3. Julia Moreno (LUT) defeats Jania Johnson (COE), 6-1, 6-0
  4. * Shelby Cook (LUT) defeats Emma Lassen (COE), 6-0, 6-3
  5. Ana Olimpio (LUT) v. Claudia Bilkey (COE), 6-4, 0-3, unfinished
  6. Riley O’Donnell (LUT) v. Eliza Sundermann (COE), 6-1, 4-2, unfinished
*Match-clinching victory
 

 
Women’s AQ Tournament Schedule
First Round – Tuesday, April 26
No. 6 Wartburg, 0 @ No. 3 Coe, 5
4:00 p.m. | Cedar Rapids, Iowa
 
No. 5 Simpson, 3 @ No. 4 Loras, 5
3:30 p.m. | Dubuque, Iowa
 
Semifinals – Friday, April 29
No. 4 Loras 0 vs. No. 1 Luther 5
4:00 p.m. | Winona, Minn.
 
No. 3 Coe 5 vs. No. 2 Central 1
4:00 p.m. | Winona, Minn.
 
Championship – Saturday, April 30
No. 1 Luther 5 vs. No. 3 Coe 0
1:00 p.m. | Winona, Minn.
 

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