Stefanova Wins Twice but Scots Tennis Falls 4-3 at Central

The Monmouth College women's tennis team started the season on Saturday with a tough 4-3 loss at Central College in Pella, Iowa.

Ivana Stefanova (Streamwood, Illinois) and Natalie Labicki (Antioch, Illinois) won 6-0 at No. 1 doubles. However, Central took the doubles point as they won 6-1 at No. 2 over Kimber Calvert (Paris, Illinois) and Natalie Holst (East Moline, Illinois) and 6-4 at No, 3 doubles against Alayna McKinley (Rock Island) and Tiah Riggs (Vincennes, Indiana)

Stefanova won 6-1, 6-4 at No. 1 singles, her 20th career singles win. Labicki fell 6-4, 6-4 at No. 2 and Calvert lost 6-0, 6-2 at No. 3, Holst won at No. 4 6-4, 6-3 while McKinley lost 6-1, 6-0 at No. 5. Riggs, a freshman, won her first career singles match 6-1, 6-2 at No, 6

"It was a very competitive match to start the year," said head coach Brian Dahlstrom. "Ivana kept up her winning ways at No. 1 and great to get wins from Holst and Riggs. Natalie is building off her freshman success last season and Tiah was very consistent and efficient in her first match and win."

MONMOUTH MOMENTS: Stefanova is the fifth player in Monmouth history with 20 career singles wins ... She now ranks 10th with 18 doubles wins and her 38 combined wins is tied for ninth ... Labicki has 22 doubles wins, tied for eighth in Monmouth history ... She is the sixth player in Monmouth history to win 40 combined matches ... The Scots have lost 14 straight matches to Central including a 4-3 match to start the 2024 season ... Riggs is the lone freshman on the roster ...