Morningside closes out memorable 2021-22 campaign

FREMONT, NEB. – A second straight tournament championship appearance and a third successive league tourney semifinal round berth headlined Morningside University's outing at the 2022 Great Plains Athletic Conference Championships Friday and Saturday, April 29 and 30.

Head coach Alex Struck's women's squad, the second seed, claimed a 4-3 thriller over Doane University in Saturday semifinal round action. The two teams each won three singles matches, as the underclasswoman trio of sophomores Jil Hellerforth (Luedensheid, Germany) and Olivia Boudreau (Papillion, Neb.) and freshman Emma Dahlhoff (Vermillion, S.D.) took the victories. A sweep in doubles action turned out to be the difference.

Getting one more chance at regular-season champion Midland University, Mside battled at every turn inside the Fremont YMCA. Hellerforth pushed the Warriors' number two to a second set tiebreaker; Helleforth and Boudreau teamed up to take the number two doubles clash to 6-4, and Boudreau led the number five singles match until Midland sewed up the 4-0 triumph. 

The Mustangs men's squad began their conference tournament outing, reversing a regular-season loss to Hastings in quarterfinal round play April 29. Singles play was the key.

Sophomore Winyou Asavaruangchai (Udoni Thai, Thailand) and freshmen Mikhil Raja (Belvedere Harare, Zimbabwe), Alex Castillo (Santiago, Chile), and Eduard Salvana (Calella, Spain) made up the difference. Struck's underclassman quartet stepped to the forefront after the Broncos won the doubles point with two of three decisions for a 1-0 lead.

Morningside aimed at a spot in the tourney finale later Friday, taking on top-seeded Midland. However, the Warriors, moving towards a bookend with their women claiming the loop tourney crown, got out quickly and didn't look back, producing straight-set victories in four of six singles matches to wrap up a 4-0 decision.

Struck's women's squad ended the slate at 13-7. The men concluded the year at 11-8. Raja (14 victories), Castillo (12 wins), Salvana (11 decisions), and freshman Danny O'Brien (Longmont, Colo.) (10 triumphs), all of whom are scheduled to return to the Mustangs in 2022-23, made up a sterling men's singles quartet. The women were guided by freshman Emma Dahlhoff (Vermillion, S.D.) (14 wins), senior Tenly Hansen (York, Neb.) (10 decisions), and junior Merel Kooij (Rockanje Zuid, Netherlands) (10 decisions) in singles action. The doubles pairing of Hansen and junior Emily Clotfelter (Fairfield, Mt.) garnered 12 victories to lead the way. All but Hansen are scheduled to return for Morningside in 2022-23.