Clark, Pendleton Advance To Title Matches

Milwaukee to compete for three championships Sunday

Des Moines, Iowa – Freshman Laurie Clark and junior Aerielle Pendleton will each play for a tournament title tomorrow after the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee continued to shine in its second day of the season-opening Roger Knapp Tennis Invite Saturday on the campus of Drake University.

UWM added another nine wins at the big tournament that has 12 total schools on hand. That comes on the heels of posting an impressive 10 wins Friday in the first action of the year.

Clark got things going for Milwaukee on the day. The newcomer took down top-seeded Abbey Dekkinga of Northern Illinois in a come-from-behind 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 win to advance to the final four. Set to face off against teammate Alysa Straub – who handily won her match, 7-6, 6-1 – Straub retired as Clark advanced to Sunday's championship match.

Next up was Pendleton. The junior – who posted two singles wins and one in doubles action Friday – continued her hot start to the season with two more wins in her singles flight Saturday. Pendleton first took down her challenger from Creighton University, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3, before a three-set win over Jitsupa Sirinit from Cardinal Stritch – who beat the No. 1 seed in the flight earlier in the day. Pendleton will now wait for her championship match on Sunday.

Continuing its impressive run on the day, Labina Petrovska also took down a No. 1 seed. Competing in the "B" flight, Petrovska defeated top-seeded Gisela Kemper, 6-3, 6-7, 6-3, before coming up just short in the semifinal match.

In the "A" flight consolation bracket, Hayley Marshall cruised to a 6-1, 6-3 win over conference foe Stephanie Londre of Green Bay before falling in the semifinal round.

In doubles action, Straub and Clark teamed up to earn a spot in the consolation finals of the "A" flight after a 6-1 win over Creighton's top duo Saturday.

Pendleton will also go for a title in doubles play on a busy Sunday after advancing with teammate Noel Peck from Green Bay. Pendleton and Peck won 6-4 and will now take on the top seed Sunday in the championship match.

UWM wraps up three-day tournament to start the season Sunday at the Roger Knapp Tennis Center.

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Players Mentioned

Hayley Marshall: Junior

Aerielle Pendleton: Junior

Alysa Straub: Junior

Labina Petrovska: Sophomore

Laurie Clark: Freshman

Players Mentioned

Hayley Marshall
: Junior

Aerielle Pendleton
: Junior

Alysa Straub
: Junior

Labina Petrovska
: Sophomore

Laurie Clark
: Freshman