Grinnell 9, Knox 0
Grinnell 9, Illinois College 0

GRINNELL, Iowa – Shutouts were the name of the game for the Grinnell College women's tennis team in a pair of 9-0 Midwest Conference wins Saturday.
 
Of the 17 matches played, Grinnell won 14 by shutout as the Pioneers blanked Knox College and Illinois College 9-0 at the Bear Center Field House. The wins were Grinnell's 27th in the last 28 MWC matches as the Pioneers improved to 7-1 in the league and 8-2 overall.

Additionally, Grinnell's wins mean the Pioneers have clinched a spot in the four-team league tourney next April (now known as the NCAA Qualifier). This is the 20th year in a row Grinnell has made the league tourney.
 
Grinnell did not lose a game in doubles, as the tandems of Abby Nielsen '21-Emma Gaydos '22 and Isabel Green '22-Brenda Guan '20 won 8-0 in both matches at the top two spots. Lily Hamilton '19 and Sara Amano '22 won 8-0 against Knox and by forfeit against Illinois College.
 
Hamilton won 6-0, 6-0 at No. 4 singles against Illinois College and No. 5 versus Knox, while Amano won by the same scores at No. 5 against Illinois College and No. 6 against Knox. Ali Hickey '21 and Green won 6-0, 6-0 at Nos. 3 and 4 against Knox, while Nielsen and Gaydos posted 6-0, 6-0 wins against the Lady Blues at Nos. 1 and 2.
 
Green won 6-1, 6-3 at No. 3 against Illinois College, Nielsen posted a 6-1, 6-1 win over Knox at No. 1 and Gaydos won 6-1, 6-0 at No. 2 versus the Prairie Fire.
 
Another highlight on the day was Hamilton getting her 58th career singles win as she continues to climb the Pioneers' all-time rankings list. She is currently ranked seventh.
 
Grinnell closes out the fall regular season with a home match Sunday against Monmouth College. Action begins at 9 a.m. The Pioneers will then compete in the MWC Individual Tournament next weekend.