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December 1, 1999

2008-09 Season - 1999-00 WOMEN'S TENNIS REVIEW

LARRY FLAHERTY TOPS THE 100 WIN MARK AT AUGUSTANA; VIKINGS WIN FINAL NINE MATCHES TO FINISH 10-4; MARGO CLARKE WINS CCIW TITLE AT NUMBER FOUR SINGLES; ERIN ROTI & LARISA RUMIN DO THE SAME AT NUMBE ONE DOUBLES; ERIN ROTI & MARGO CLARKE MOVE ONTO SCHOOL'S TOP 10 CAREER VICTORY LIST

One thing has always been true about the women's tennis team at Augustana College since Larry Flaherty took over prior to the 1992-93 school year. The Vikings are always a force to be reckoned with by the time the end of the season rolls around. Never was that more true than during the 1999 fall season.

At the beginning of the year things did not look so good for Flaherty's charges. The Vikings lost their first two matches and four of their first five. The lone victory in that stretch was a 9-0 shutout of North Central on September 17 in Naperville, Illinois. However, that was an important win as it was the 100^th dual meet victory for Flaherty during his Augustana career. By the time the season would end, Flaherty would have his career record up to a glossy 109-42 and the Vikings would be on a roll.

On September 18, one day after Flaherty reached the century mark; Augustana would lose twice - to Wheaton by a score of 7-2 and Wisconsin-Whitewater by a count of 5-4. That would be the last time the Blue and Gold would taste defeat until the conference tournament. The streak, which would end up at nine by the season's conclusion, started on September 25 in Pella, Iowa with a 5-4 victory over Simpson which was followed by an 8-1 win against Central of Iowa. It would all end up with a 10-4 overall record and a 5-2 mark in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin.

At the CCIW tournament that was held at the Evergreen Racquet Club in Bloomington, Illinois on October 15-16, the Vikings would continue with their strong play. While Wheaotn won the team championship with 64 points and Carthage would finish second with 59, Augustana placed a strong third with 48 points.

Junior Margo Clarke (Chatham Glenwood HS, Chatham, IL) captured the number four singles title at the CCIW tournament with a 4-6; 7-6; 6-2 win over Christine Hamm of Carthage in the final. Junior Larisa Rumin (Downers Grove South HS, Downers Grove, IL) and senior Erin Roti (Crystal Lake Central HS, Crystal Lake, IL) would join Clarke on the championship platform with a win at number one doubles. In the final match Rumin and Roti defeated top seeded Lesinski and Weber of Carthage by a count of 6-2; 2-6; 6-4.

Freshman Lindsay Clarke (Chatham-Glenwood HS, Chatham, IL) placed second at number five singles while Rumin at number one, Roti at number two and junior Julie Schuering (Quincy Notre Dame HS, Quincy, IL) all finished third at their respective positions. The freshman team of Lindsay Clarke and Maggie Schuering (Quincy Notre Dame HS, Quincy, IL) were second at number three doubles.

Roti was 8-5 on the year and she moved into a tie for sixth place on the school's all-time career victory list in singles with a mark of 60-22. She is currently knotted with Kelli Heiser who was 60-44 from 1986-90. With the spring schedule still to be played, Roti could break that deadlock and move up. Fifth place is Tara Rostron who was 67-26 from 1992-94. Margo Clarke is also in the career top 10 with her record of 57-15 and with a full season left to play she can be expected to move even higher than the 10^th place tie she now finds herself in with Beth Cook (57-40 from 1987-91).

COLLEGE CONFERENCE OF ILLINOIS & WISCONSIN TOURNAMENT

October 15-16 * Evergreen Racquet Club * Bloomington, Illinois

TEAM SCORES

INDIVIDUAL PLACE WINNERS