CHICAGO – The Mount Mary College had a week filled will season firsts. Thursday, the Blue Angels picked up their first team win against MSOE and Saturday they put together their first win-streak of the year, defeating Concordia University-Chicago. That streak was then snapped in Mount Mary's first trip to a clay court in a few years, dropping a match to Roosevelt University to manage a split on the day.
"It's beginning to come together as the Angels get more match play," head coach Tom Troast said. "We got Concordia at a good time for us and a difficult time for them. We're a bit banged up late in the season but we had all our folks today ready."
Senior Kat Reynoso (Brookfield, Wis.) and juniors Katie Wolk (Oshkosh, Wis.) and Carol Guillen (River Hills, Wis.) all picked up singles victories against the Cougars, while the Blue Angels picked up a pair of default wins over unfilled Concordia netters at No. 6 singles and No. 3 doubles.
"Kat won the critical match today," Troast said. "To win the tie breaker after losing that second set showed a lot of mental toughness, especially after last year. A year ago a net cord shot cost her a set and us the match. Great for her to win today in a close contest.
"Its great to have our season change in such a positive way. The Angels have been working hard in practice, and they are beginning to believe in themselves as tennis players."
Following the shortened match against Concordia, Mount Mary traveled further into the city to take on Roosevelt University. The match not only took place in one of the city's most popular recreational areas, but on a surface many tennis players may never see in their collegiate careers.
"Interesting match played in a completely different environment for us," Troast said. "The Angels struggled on the clay but it's good to experience a surface foreign to most American players. I was impressed with how Roosevelt utilized the clay by hitting booming topspin shots that frankly our players never really adjusted to.
"And with a busy Lincoln Park and the Lakefront freeway literally yards from the courts, it was a loud and busy atmosphere. I liked the unique exposure to a venue that we're not likely to experience often."
Once the Blue Angels settled in, they proved a worthy foe to the host Lakers. Wolk picked up her third straight double-double (winning both singles and doubles matches against the same opponent) winning at No. 4 singles and No. 3 doubles. Unfortunately, those were the only two wins Mount Mary could muster against Roosevelt as nagging injuries and fatigue from the pair of physical matches shone through late.
"Katie found herself in a singles match that was as intense and strange as she'll experience during her collegiate career," Troast said. "Not just because of her double victory, she's player of the day for her sportsmanship and patience. Her last singles set wound up playing in front of both teams and the crowd and she conducted herself as one would expect while dealing with a demonstrative and unpredictable opponent."
Dramatic match at No. 4 singles aside, Reynoso once again also proved to be the fighter, eventually dropping a wild three set match to her Laker foe. After winning the first set 4-6, she dropped a hard fought 7-5 tiebreak in the second set, then was out lasted 10-8 in the final tiebreak to drop the match.
Winning two of its last three matches, Mount Mary will take momentum into is season finale Thursday at Alverno. Doubles competition against the crosstown rival Inferno is scheduled for 4 p.m.
