Lady Vikings eliminated from NAIA meet in debut

Senior Nicki Erickson of Marshall closed her career at Missouri Valley College by playing in the NAIA Championships. (Chris Allen/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge]

MOBILE, Ala. -- The first-ever appearance by the Missouri Valley College women's tennis team in the NAIA Championships at Mobile, Ala., was a brief one.

The Lady Vikings were eliminated in the first round in convincing fashion by Lindsey Wilson (Ky.), 8-1.

The Blue Raiders got off to a strong start with 8-0 victories in the top two doubles spot, junior Jessica Weyreuter and freshman Vanja Tomic downing freshman Elanqua Griffin and senior Nicki Erickson at No. 1 and freshman Trina Slapeka and sophomore Darya Yablonski defeating freshmen Tershelle Burrows and Juliana Doyle at No. 3.

Valley got a brief lift at No. 3, with a close match before freshman Davina Holtfreter and junior Lindsay Tworek dropped an 8-6 decision to juniors Agnieszka Wojtowicz and Lindsey Sheene.

The Lady Vikings wouldn't win a singles match until No. 6, where Tworek beat Sheene, 7-5, 6-0. Lindsey Wilson (11-4) didn't lose more than three games in any of the other tilts. The Blue Raiders will take a nine-match win streak into today's second-round clash with No. 6 California Baptist.

Valley (12-5) finished the season with its first Heart of America Conference championship, losing only one senior -- Erickson, the former Marshall standout -- from its line-up.