Matt Lee | Student Life

Junior Jaclyn Bild serves the ball as she defeats Allison Gilles of Lindenwood University 6-4, 6-1 in No. 2 singles on Wednesday. The Bears coasted to a 7-2 victory over Lindenwood, giving them their second consecutive home victory.

The Bears jumped out to a 3-0 lead, sweeping doubles competition. Doubles teams consisting of freshman Kate Klein and junior Karina Kocemba, and juniors Jaclyn Bild and Elise Sambol, each snagged 8-2 victories. Senior Allison Dender and junior Kalee Cassady also picked up an 8-3 win at No. 3 doubles.

“We found out a few years ago that doubles is really important,” head coach Kelly Stahlhuth said. “It just makes it so much better to have two points on doubles or three, just in terms of taking a little bit of the pressure off [singles].”

Just as Stahlhuth forecast, the Lady Bears played with less pressure in singles on their way to taking four of the six singles matches. In those four victories, none of the winners, Klein, Bild, Kocemba or freshman Paige Madara, dropped a set.

Bild, who captured a 6-0, 6-1 victory in second singles, attributed her success to being consistent and taking advantage of key opportunities. “I think it was moving the player around, just getting everything back and trying to make minimal mistakes,” Bild said. “And then taking opportunities, like if I get a short ball, to attack.”

Kocemba, who won a 6-0, 6-1 match in third singles, also tried to negate the windy playing conditions and outlast her opponent. “I think I was more consistent than she was, and had it together a little bit more,” Kocemba said.

In their last two matches, the Bears have enjoyed returning home and have thrived in front of the home crowd. “It’s definitely exciting to have the home advantage, because we have people to come support us. It definitely motivates us,” Bild said. “But it’s always important at the end of the day to bring our game to the table and win no matter where we are.”

With only one more match until the Madison Invitational in Wisconsin on April 2-3, and three more matches until the UAA Championships in Cleveland on April 16-18, the team feel like they have hit their stride and know they must play their best tennis at this point in the season.

“We’ve been working really hard on fitness and execution of our shots. We just have to be able to execute, and that’s what we’ve been working on in practice,” Stahlhuth said. “Madison this weekend is going to be a huge opportunity for us, and I think we’re going to be ready for it.”

The Bears complete their home stand on Tuesday, taking on Missouri Baptist University at 4:30 p.m.

“I do think we are where we need to be,” Stahlhuth said. “I think we’ve got everything on the right schedule, and now we just have to be able to deliver it when we need it.”

Against Lindenwood, the women’s team finished first in eight of 11 events while the men’s squad won seven of 11 events despite returning from an eight-day training trip the night before.

“The girl’s team overall dominated,” senior, co-captain Alyssa Pagliere said. “They did an excellent job of bringing the heat.”

Sophomore Karin Underwood took first in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 5:15.73, clocking in ahead of her closest opponent by more than 20 seconds. Senior Kelly Kono took a pair of wins in the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard breaststroke while freshman Karina Stridh submitted an NCAA ‘B’ cut time of 53.10 in the 100-yard freestyle. Stridh is automatically qualified for nationals in that event, as she swam to a school record time of 51.19 last December at the Wheaton Invitational.

Freshman Chris Valach swam to a Wash. U. season best time of 9:47.52 in the 1,000-yard freestyle and junior Daniel Arteaga took first in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 22.12 seconds. “We’ve been working really hard, really just getting ready for conference,” senior, co-captain Kevin Leckey said. “This is the year we’re going out at conference and impressing everyone.”

Although Wednesday’s dual meet against Wabash only featured the men’s team, the women’s team stood poolside to cheer on their teammates. “It meant a lot to me and the guys,” Head Coach Brad Shively said.

The men triumphed in eight of 11 events against Wabash with a 122-82 victory. Sophomore David Chao and junior Alex Beyer finished first in two events each as Chao captured the 50- and 100-yard freestyle events while Beyer won the 200-yard freestyle and butterfly.

“We‘re a work in progress,” Shively said. “None of us are finished products, and there’s a lot of room for improvement.”

One of the more exciting events was the collegiate debut of freshman Jordan Branham who was sidelined in the fall semester due to injury. “It felt great internally [to the members of the team],” Shively said. “Branham comes in everyday.”

The bonds displayed at the meets were previously solidified over the team’s winter break trip where the squad had 15 intense practices. “You spend every waking minute with your team,” Leckey said.

“Eat, swim, sleep, rinse and repeat,” Pagliere said.

The Bears will have their final home meet of the season on Friday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at 11 a.m. The Washington University Invitational promises to be an emotional meet, according to the captains, especially for seniors Leckey, Pagliere, Kono, Charles Stewart, Julian Beattie and Kyle Ota, who will all have their last meets at the Millstone Pool.

“It’s been an honor to swim with our seniors these past three years, and I’m going to miss them all,” junior Kim Moeller said.

The seniors will be recognized for their contributions during the meet. “It’s definitely one of those bittersweet moments,” Pagliere said.

“It’s been tough being a student athlete, especially at a place like Wash. U.,” Leckey said. “But I wouldn’t trade [the experience] for anything.”

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