Leifheit, Laughlin Net Trio of Awards for Scots at Midwest Conference Championships

Monmouth, IL (10/21/2019) — Monmouth reached the consolation finals of the Midwest Conference Singles and Doubles Championships in six of the nine events as senior Rachael Leifheit (DeKalb, Ill./Glenbard East) and freshman Emily Laughlin (Milan, Ill./Rock Island) combined for three consolation titles.

Playing at the Nielson Tennis Center in Madison, Wis., Leifheit and Laughlin opened Saturday's play pairing for the first time this season. The tandem dropped their opening match 8-2 to Cornell at No. 2 doubles, but roared back in the consolation bracket. Leifheit and Laughlin rolled past Ripon 8-1 in the consolation semifinals and cruised to an 8-3 win over Lawrence in the consolation title match.

The pair had like results when singles play opened Sunday. Playing at No. 3 singles, Leifheit dropped a straight set match to Lawrence in the quarterfinals, but ran off a pair of wins on the consolation side. Leifheit blanked her Knox opponent in the consolation semifinals and edged Cornell 8-5 in the No. 3 consolation championship.

Laughlin dropped her No. 4 quarterfinal match in straight sets to St. Norbert, but like her doubles partner, came on strong in the back draw. An 8-2 in over Knox in the consolation semifinals moved her into the consolation title tilt where she outlasted Ripon 8-5.

The Scots also had consolation title matches at three other positions.

Isabel Hammond and Emily Henson fought their way to the consolation championship at No. 3 doubles. After dropping an 8-1 quarterfinal match to St. Norbert, Monmouth's No. 3 pair cruised by Ripon 8-1 in the consolation semis before being edged 8-5 by Cornell in the consolation finals.

Hammond and Henson followed the lead set by Leifheit and Laughlin in Sunday's singles play, each advancing to the singles consolation title match.

Hammond was set down in straight sets in the quarterfinals at No. 5 singles, but posted an 8-3 win over Knox in the consolation semis. The freshman ran out of gas in the consolation title match, falling to Cornell 8-0.

Henson dropped her quarterfinal at No. 6 to St. Norbert in straight sets before a convincing 8-1 win over Knox in the consolation semifinals. Cornell then ended Henson's run in the consolation title match, defeating the freshman 8-3.

Playing at No. 1 doubles, Emma Johanns and McKenzie DeVilder were eliminated in two matches, dropping their first round match to Knox 8-1. The tandem was eliminated in an 8-3 loss to Illinois College in the consolation semifinals.

The pair mirrored their outcomes in singles where Johanns lost a heartbreaker at No. 1. Johanns took Set 1 against Illinois College 6-2, but dropped the second set 6-3. She was outlasted in the tiebreaker 7-5. Johanns then exited with an 8-5 consolation semifinal loss to Cornell. DeVilder opened her singles play with a convincing straight set win over Knox, winning 6-1, 6-1, but was shutout in straight sets by Grinnell in the quarterfinals to be eliminated from play.

The Scots return all but Leifheit and DeVilder from the MWC lineup for next fall.

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