SURPRISE, Ariz. – The MSU Denver women's tennis team finished its impressive run at the Pacific West Conference Tournament on Saturday with a 4-2 victory over 25
th-ranked Fresno Pacific (Calif.) to finish in fifth place.
"The ladies pulled another really good win today," MSU Denver coach
Josh Graetz said. "Fresno Pacific is a very successful tennis program."
After winning the doubles point, MSU Denver got another easy win at No. 6 singles by
Marie Cool (6-3, 6-1), then
Lilly Stienemeier won at No. 5 (6-2, 6-4). After two singles losses,
Helena Steenberg won at No. 2 by 7-6 (5) and 6-4 to clinch the dual.
Cool has won nine straight matches at No. 6 singles and improved to 12-5 for the season.
Earlier, Steenberg and Stienemeier won at No. 2 doubles (6-4) and Cool teamed with
Gala Castello for a win at No. 3 doubles (6-1).
The Roadrunners entered the tournament as the No. 9 seed and weren't among the six teams "under consideration" for the four berths to the NCAA Division II West Region Tournament. While advancing higher than fifth after this weekend would be a surprise, in ordinary years with a full NCAA Tournament field the Roadrunners might have moved themselves onto the bubble by going 3-1 at the PacWest.
"I'm so proud of our ladies this weekend," Graetz said. "I saw some great growth."