The No. 2 doubles pair of Molly Card and Helen Johnson became flight champions at the Indiana Invitational Sunday. It is the first time in the history of the tournament an SIUC duo has done so.

Card and Johnson were 3-0 in their quest for the championship.

Coach Judy Auld said this is a new doubles match-up for the Salukis.

Advertisement

For a new doubles team this early in the year, things are clicking, she said. They gel well.

Johnson said she was excited to finally get tournament experience.

It is a lot different from practice to play someone you’ve never played before, she said.

Consistent play continued throughout the Saluki roster.

Liz Gardner and Patricia Zihler placed fifth at No. 1 doubles with a 2-1 record.

I was very pleased with them (Gardner and Zihler) at doubles, Auld said. We’ve worked a lot on consistency and closing in on the net, which you have to do in doubles.

Gardner said she was pleased because games improved throughout the tournament.

Advertisement*

We just did the basic things, getting in first serves and first returns, she said. You make your opponents play.

Freshmen Dana Stoudt and Katie Randall were winless in flight three doubles, but show promise for future matches.

Auld said the team played with focus and great concentration.

Improvement throughout the weekend was a main objective of tournament play.

We want to play consistently at doubles, staying at one level of play. Auld said.

Gardner also played well at No. 1 singles. She defeated Kelly Squires of Miami of Ohio 7-5, 6-2.

It was a good tournament for her even though she went 1-2, Auld said.

Auld said that Gardner is a strategic player, who does all she is asked on the court.

She orchestrates the point, Auld said. I have never seen a player do it quite the way Gardner does it when things are going for her.

The tournament fulfilled expectations of both Auld and her team.

If we can come back and have people feel they’ve progressed and have some winning records, then it’s a good tournament, Auld said.

Gardner agreed with Auld.

It was a good tournament, she said. We played many top schools close.

Auld said the individual performances of players enhances the play of the whole team.

The big thing on the team is chemistry. It shows on the court, she said. It is this chemistry that leads to a successful season.