Rose-Hulman Claims First HCAC Women’s Tennis AQ Championship

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology’s women’s tennis team capped off their most successful season in school history, claiming the school’s first Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament championship on Friday afternoon.  The Engineers earned the top seed after completing the regular season with a perfect 8-0 mark against league competition.

Rose earned a 5-1 win over Manchester before knocking off No. 2 seed Transylvania 5-2 to earn the championship and the conference’s automatic qualifier for the Division III NCAA tournament. 

In Friday’s championship match with Transylvania, the Engineers posted a 5-2 victory at West Indy Racquet Club.  RHIT earned wins at two doubles positions.  Melissa Montgomery (Alexandria, Ind.) and Sage Sackett (Kalamazoo, Mich.) knocked off Katie Boone (Lancaster, Ohio) and Stephanie Townsend (Goshen, Ky.) of Transy at No. 2 doubles 8-5.  Paige Cook (Terre Haute, Ind.) teamed with Lauren Reberger (Brazil, Ind.) to notch an 8-5 win at No. 3 doubles over Kaitlyn Hizny (Owensboro, Ky.) and Abby Newcom (Owensboro, Ky.).

In singles play, Rose-Hulman earned wins at No. 2, No. 3, and No. 6 singles.  Sackett collected a win at No. 2 singles over Boone 7-6(2), 6-1, Marie Stettler (Edgerton, Wis.) handed Sarah Ridley (Henderson, Ky.) a defeat at No. 3 singles 6-4, 6-4, and Klara Schroederus (Glenview, Ill.) handled Victoria Haugli (London, England) at No. 6 singles, 6-4, 6-0. 

Transylvania’s victories came at No. 1 doubles and singles.  Kelsey Fulkerson (Lexington, Ky.) teamed with Ridley to knock off Megan Chann (Columbia, Mo) and Stettler 8-6 at No. 1 doubles, while Fulkerson handed Chann a defeat at No. 1 singles 6-0, 6-0.

With claiming the tournament title, Rose-Hulman has earned the conference’s automatic bid to play in the NCAA Division III tennis championships this spring.  It will be the first appearance for RHIT in the NCAA women’s tennis tournament.