April 9, 2008
Bismarck, ND – Tied at four wins apiece, the fate of the University of Mary and the Minnesota State University Moorhead came down to a tiebreaking battle in #4 singles. With all other matches in the book, all eyes turned to the Marauders’ Mariah Linn and the Dragons’ Maria Cederberg, the final two players remaining on the courts.
A freshman from Glendive, MT, Linn won the first set 6-3 before dropping the second 4-6 to Cederberg. In the tiebreaker, Linn rebounded to grab the momentum and a 10-2 win, giving the Marauders a 5-4 Northern Sun victory over the Dragons. It was the third straight NSIC win for U-Mary, which evened its overall and conference record at 3-3.
The Marauders opened the day with another strong performance in doubles, winning two of the three matches. The U-Mary #2 team of Michelle Bauer and Jessica Seifert defeated Laura Benz and Alyssa Schafer 8-0 while the #3 team of Linn and Jane Langenwalter cruised to an 8-1 win over Kayla Parker and Traci Pesta.
U-Mary needed three wins in singles to take the match, and the top two in the Marauders rotation came through with clutch victories to start the ball rolling.
In #1 singles, senior Chelsey Stark took some revenge for a doubles loss by defeating Ashley Taborsky in straight sets, 6-2 and 6-4. Bauer then won her second match of the day, sweeping Claudia Irina 6-2, 6-4. With those two wins in the book, it came down to the freshman Linn to carry the day, and she came through for the Marauders win.
The Marauders are next in action April 11 when U-Mary faces Bethany Lutheran before meeting Upper Iowa and Martin Luther on April 12.
University of Mary def. Minnesota State University Moorhead, 5-4
Doubles
#1: Ashley Taborsky/Maria Cederberg (MSUM) def. Chelsey Stark/Marissa Steadman (UM), 8-6
#2: Michelle Bauer/Jessica Seifert (UM) def. Laura Benz/Alyssa Schafer (MSUM), 8-0
#3: Mariah Linn/Jane Langenwalter (UM) def. Kayla Parker/Traci Pesta (MSUM), 8-1
Singles
#1: Stark (UM) def. Taborsky (MSUM), 6-2, 6-4
#2: Bauer (UM) def. Claudia Irina (MSUM), 6-2, 6-3
#3: Benz (MSUM) def. Seifert, 7-6 (7-2), 6-2
#4: Linn (UM) def. Cederberg (MSUM), 6-3, 4-6, 10-2
#5: Schafer (MSUM) def. Denise Bodensteiner (UM), 1-6, 1-6
#6: Lexi Moon (MSUM) def. Steadman (UM), 6-4, 6-2
