Lakeland Women's Tennis Wins First Conference Championship!
October 9, 2002
Sheboygan, Wis - The Lakeland College women's tennis team won the schools first ever conference championship this past weekend at Nielsen Tennis Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin. The Muskies, who placed third in the conference a year ago, finished the tournament with 40 points, nine better than second place Concordia.

Lakeland captured four of the six singles championships as three players finished the season undefeated. Junior Hanaka Murakami finished her undefeated season by beating Edgewood's Keely Williams 7-6 (7-5), 6-2 in the number one singles championship. Likewise, senior Heather Ourada beat Edgewood's Jenny Stelle 6-2, 6-1 in the number two singles, and junior Cody Carlson beat Concordia's Laura Wetterhus 7-5, 6-4 at number four singles. At number five singles Lakeland's Heidi Heling (jr.) beat Marian's Pam Kohal 6-2, 6-3 for first place. Rounding out the championship team were senior Akiko Matsubashi, who finished fourth at number three singles and freshman Nicki Smith, who placed fourth in number six singles.

In number one doubles, Murakami and Ourada defeated Edgewood's Williams and Stelle 6-1, 6-4 for first place. The pair was also undefeated in doubles this season at 9-0. Akiko Matsubashi and Nicki Smith placed fourth at the number three doubles.

As a team, Lakeland was undefeated during the regular season going a perfect 7-0. Lakeland Coach Mike Devaney was honored as coach of the year for the third time during his tenure.

The rest of the results are as follows:
1.) Lakeland College - 40
2.) Concordia-WI - 31
3.) Edgewood College - 30
4.) Marian College - 18.5
5.) Wisconsin Lutheran - 14
6.) MSOE - 0