Courtesy of Fort Hays State University Athletics
COLORADO SPRINGS – Fort Hays State Tennis opened its 2017-18 season with a hard-fought 5-4 win at Colorado College on Saturday (Sept. 9). The match came down to a tight three-set win by Lauren Lindell in singles play as the Tigers rallied from a 2-1 deficit after doubles competition.
The Tigers took one of two tight matches in doubles action. Ellea Ediger was key for the Tigers in her first collegiate competition, teaming with Macy Moyers at the No. 2 position for a 9-7 win. She would later win her No. 6 singles match for a key point in the Tiger comeback. At No. 3 doubles, Nicole Lubbers and Laura Jimenez-Lendinez came up just short in a 9-8 decision, falling 7-5 in a tiebreak. The No. 1 team of Natalie Lubbers and Lauren Lindell gave their opponents at the No. 1 position a tough match, but fell 8-5.
The Tigers charged back in singles play, taking four of the six contests. Jimenez-Lendinez nearly blanked her opponent at No. 2, winning 6-0, 6-1, while Moyers and Ediger also produced straight-set wins at the No. 4 and 6 positions. The only singles match the Tigers dropped in straight sets was the No. 5 position, with Nicole Lubbersfalling 6-3, 6-2. Natalie Lubbers nearly gave FHSU a 6-3 victory, but fell in a third-set tiebreak 10-8 at the No. 1 position. Lindell was the decisive point for FHSU at the No. 3 position, also having to go three sets and won her tiebreaker by two, 10-8, outlasting Madison Doerre for the win.
It was a good close win for the young Tiger team looking to grow its confidence in preparation for the tough MIAA schedule lying ahead in the spring. FHSU gets back to action next Thursday and Friday (Sept. 14-15) in Pueblo, Colorado with three matches. The Tigers will face CSU-Pueblo, Metro State, and Colorado Mesa.