Last weekend the 16th-ranked Washington University women’s tennis team traveled to Waltham, Mass., to compete in the University Athletic Association (UAA) Championships, hosted by Brandeis University. Led by senior Kacie Cook, the squad, which came into the weekend as the No. 2 seed, placed second at the tournament, falling to Emory University 8-1 in the final match.

With the loss in the finals, the team evened out their season record at 8-8, but not before making a strong showing against fellow UAA rivals during the three-day tournament, held from April 15-17.

Before the finals on Sunday, senior Erica Greenberg surrendered just two games in her two matches in leading the women to a sweep of Case Western Reserve University on Friday. Greenberg and classmate Becky Rovner picked up an 8-0 win at No. 2 doubles to improve to a team-best 15-5 on the season as a duo. Greenberg also earned a 6-1, 6-1 win at No. 3 singles. Cook (No. 2), sophomore Erin Fleming (No. 4), and senior Sara Kabakoff (No. 5) also notched straight-set, 6-0, 6-0 singles wins, ensuring the squad’s entrance into the finals. On Saturday, the Bears defeated Carnegie Mellon University in the semifinals 6-3.

In Sunday’s final, the team couldn’t keep up against the No. 1-seeded Emory, as the team nearly shut out the University. Cook came away with the team’s only win in the finals, both in singles and doubles play, as she made a rag doll of her opponent, winning in straight sets, 6-2 and 7-5. Greenberg didn’t back down easily, though, losing both her sets by close margins each time, 7-5 and 6-3.

Following their strong showing against Emory, the Bears took their momentum into their last home match of the season, upending Principia College as every member of the squad won their respective matches for a 9-0 match win. Playing in the No.1 spot, Cook won every one of her games, racking up a clean 6-0, 6-0 sweep, while every doubles partnership had a great amount of success as well. The duos of Flemming and junior Lauren Zwick, Cook and her younger sister, freshman Ashley Cook, and freshman Amy Hsieh and senior Sarah Hutnick all came away with 8-1 victories in their respective matches. The win improved the team’s season record to 9-8.

As the season prepares to come to a close with the NCAA Championships in Kalamazoo, Mich., from May 18-23, the team looks to closing out their season as strongly as many of the team members have done all season. Greenberg and Kabakoff boast the team’s best singles records, with 18-5 and 19-6 showings, respectively. In doubles play, Greenberg and senior Becky Rovner have won 16 total games on the season to their six losses, a team best.

Following the end of season, the women’s tennis head coach Lynn Imergoot will retire from coaching due to health concerns. A four-time UAA Coach of the Year, Imergoot, 56, will undergo surgery this fall. She will remain at Washington University as the associate director of intramurals and club sports.

“The last 30 years at Washington University have been a joy. It has been a great ride and lots of fun,” said Imergoot. “What I am going to miss most about coaching is my relationship with the players on the team. I enjoy seeing them progress from their freshman to senior years, knowing that I’ve been an important part of their lives.”

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