The Forester women's tennis team rebounded from a 7-2 loss to host Grinnell College by blanking Illinois College 9-0 on Saturday (September 26). Lake Forest is now 7-3 after playing its first two Midwest Conference matches of the season. Grinnell is now 10-2 overall and 4-0 in league play. Illinois College is winless in six matches, including three MWC contests, this year.

Grinnell defeated the Foresters at all three doubles positions, although the matches at #2 and #3 were each decided by just two games.

Lake Forest freshman Melika Celebic (Visoko, Bosnia Herzegovina/United World College) and junior Lauren Stroner (Johnsburg, Ill./Johnsburg) earned team points in singles play. Celebic prevailed 6-1, 6-3 at the top spot in the lineup and Stroner won 6-3, 6-1 at #4. Matches at #2 and #6 reached a third-set super tiebreak.

The Foresters won two doubles matches against Illinois College and the Lady Blues' lack of a team at #3 gave Lake Forest another point. Celebic and seniorMolly Stapleton (St. Louis Park, Minn./Saint Louis Park) prevailed 8-1 at #1 and sophomore Sara Bennett (Sioux City, Iowa/Sioux City North) teamed with Stroner for another 8-1 win at #2.

Celebic triumphed 6-3, 6-0 at #1 singles. Stapleton, junior Michelle Stroner (Johnsburg, Ill./Johnsburg), Bennett, and junior Viri Del Bosque (Rockford, Ill./Guilford) did not surrender a game at #2, #3, #4, and #5, respectively. Illinois College did not have a #6 singles player.

Lake Forest will host a pair of matches next Saturday (October 3). The Foresters will take on Knox College at 8:30 in the morning and St. Norbert College at 3:00 p.m.