The Washington University women’s tennis team earned its seventh win of the season and the team’s 400th victory on March 20 with a 9-0 win over University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL). The win was coach Lynn Imergoot’s 400th as well; she started the women’s program in 1975.
The team made the milestone win an easy one as they defeated UMSL handily, winning all nine matches in straight sets. The team followed up the match with another 9-0 victory over Graceland University, winning all of its matches in straight set fashion again.
Often in tennis, it is easy to play down to the opposition’s level, but the women’s team avoided this trap and maintained a high level of play despite playing against lesser competition.
“With opponents that aren’t as good, you tend to let down,” Imergoot said. “[Our team] didn’t do that.”
This weekend, the women’s team will look to continue its winning ways in matches against University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and Wittenberg University. Both matches are important, as the team looks to hold on to its No. 2 ranking in the Midwest region. The top twelve teams in the region will meet for the Midwest Invitational held at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
While both of WU’s opponents are lower ranked, they feature strong No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles players. Imergoot has urged her players to ignore the rankings and instead focus on winning the matches at hand.
“Rankings are what others think of you,” Imergoot said. “Results are what you think of yourself.”
After the Midwest Invitational, the Bears will host the UAA Conference Tournament from April 25-27. The team is currently ranked second in the UAA behind conference-leading Emory. The tournament will be played in Forest Park at the Dwight Davis Tennis Center, named for the tennis dignitary and founder of the Davis Cup.
Depending on their performance, the women’s team may be eligible for team NCAA tournament play. Additionally, singles players Jenny Stein and Kacie Cook, and doubles team Rathi Mani and Lauren Zwick, may have the opportunity to compete in NCAA singles and doubles tournaments.
While the women’s tennis team now hosts major tournaments and has an impressive road schedule, Imergoot is quick to note just how far the team has come since it began 28 years ago.
“The growth of the program has been incredible,” Imergoot said. “We started with a purely fall schedule and no overnight trips, local away games only, to playing fall and spring, flying to our spring break trip and playing some of the best teams in the nation.”