Courtesy Lawrence Sports Information
MOUNT VERNON, Iowa – Lawrence University women’s tennis coach Steve Francour picked up victory No. 500 as the Vikings downed Cornell College 6-3 in a Midwest Conference match on Saturday.
Francour, in his seventh season at Lawrence and his 30th season overall, now has 199 wins in women’s coaching career to go along with 301 victories coaching the men.
“If you’re around for a long time and you do what you’re supposed to do, you’re going to experience some success,” Francour said. “I’m proud of the accomplishment, but it’s really about the kids and trying to make them better.”
Lawrence jumped out to an early lead after the doubles as the No. 1 team of Margot Connor and Emma Koppa won 8-6, and the No. 3 team of Lauren Aturaliya and Amelia Watson were also 8-6 winners.
The Vikings then picked up straight-sets wins as Koppa won 6-1, 6-1 at No. 3 singles, Watson won 6-2, 6-1 at No. 5 and Jacki Healy won 6-3, 6-2 at No. 6. Aturaliya then rallied for a 0-6, 6-5, 7-5 victory at No. 2 to complete the victory for the Vikings.
With the victory, Lawrence improved to 1-1 in Midwest Conference play, and Cornell fell to 0-2.
Lawrence University 6, Cornell College 3
Singles competition
1. Abbey Nelson (CC) def. Margot Connor (LU) 6-4, 2-6, 6-1
2. Lauren Aturaliya (LU) def. Emmaline Fievet (CC) 0-6, 6-4, 7-5
3. Emma Koppa (LU) def. Regina BermudezSmith (CC) 6-1, 6-1
4. Megan Pope (CC) def. Morgan Fisher (LU) 6-0, 6-2
5. Amelia Watson (LU) def. Amanda Dragon (CC) 6-2, 6-1
6. Jacki Healy (LU) def. Natalie Brandt (CC) 6-3, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. Margot Connor/Emma Koppa (LU) def. Abbey Nelson/Emmaline Fievet (CC) 8-6
2. Megan Pope/Regina BermudezSmith (CC) def. Morgan Fisher/Jacki Healy (LU) 8-3
3. Lauren Aturaliya/Amelia Watson (LU) def. Amanda Dragon/Natalie Brandt (CC) 8-6
