Four singles wins key victory over Monmouth
Playing at home for the final time this fall, St. Ambrose used its depth in singles to defeat Monmouth 5-2 Tuesday afternoon at Davenport West. The Bees won the bottom four singles matches and took the doubles point to move to 4-5 for the year.
All six singles matches were competitive, with one being decided in a third-set super-tiebreaker. That one did not go SAU's way as Maggie Sullivan fell at No. 1 singles 4-6, 6-4, 10-4.
But St. Ambrose pulled out three other tight wins. Alison Hanson was able to escape in a second-set tiebreaker in her 6-4, 7-6 (8-6) win at No. 6. Megan McConnaughay needed a tiebreaker in the opening set of her 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 win at No. 5 singles.
Paige Bily and Hayley Hoffman also won in straight sets. Bily prevailed 6-4, 6-4 at No. 3 and Hoffman earned a 6-2, 6-3 win at No. 4. Julia Turek lost her match at No. 2 6-4, 6-0.
The Bees also earned the doubles point with two victories. Hoffman and Hanson teamed for a 6-4 win at No. 2, and McConnaughay and Kate Jones won 6-2 at No. 3 doubles.
St. Ambrose will conclude the fall portion of its schedule in Decorah, Iowa, Saturday by facing both Simpson and Luther.
St. Ambrose 5, Monmouth 2
Singles
1 - Natalie Labicki (MC) def. Maggie Sullivan, 4-6, 6-4, 10-4
2 - Emily Laughlin (MC) def. Julia Turek, 6-4, 6-0
3 - Paige Bily (SAU) def. Isabel Hammond, 6-4, 6-4
4 - Hayley Hoffman (SAU) def. Emily Henson, 6-2, 6-3
5 - Megan McConnaughay (SAU) def. Jennifer Shimmin, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3
6 - Alison Hanson (SAU) def. Julia Mheidze, 6-4, 7-6 (8-6)
Doubles
1 - Labicki/Laughlin (MC) def. Turek/Bily, 6-3
2 - Hoffman/Hanson (SAU) def. Hammond/Henson, 6-4
3 - McConnaughay/Kate Jones (SAU) def. Shimmin/Mheidze, 6-2