MOUNT VERNON – The Rams closed the Midwest Conference women's tennis regular season on a winning note, claiming a 7-2 dual meet over Monmouth Saturday afternoon.
 
Cornell fell short in a tightly-contested dual with Illinois College Saturday morning, 6-3, which denied the Rams a berth in the four-team MWC Tournament next weekend.
 
The Rams (6-6 overall) finished fifth in the final MWC standings at 2-4. Illinois College earned the No. 4 spot at 3-3 in MWC play.
 
Cornell went down to the wire in the battle with Illinois College, which pulled out four singles matches in third-set tiebreakers that decided the outcome.
 
Freshman Audrey Small went 2-0 against the Lady Blues, winning 6-3, 6-4 at No. 4 singles and partnering with Kylie Jacobson for an 8-0 shutout at No. 3 doubles.
 
The Rams received a 7-5, 6-0 win from Ashley Drake at No. 6 singles. Cornell dropped three-set matches at No. 1 singles (Michelle Maag 4-6, 6-0, 6-2 over Makayla Johnson), No. 2 (Hannah Lueke 6-1, 0-6, 6-3 over Ashley Mink), No. 3 (Lily Ingram 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 over Jacobson) and No. 5 (Jasmine Dennis 7-6 (8), 4-6, 6-2 over Josalin McKeever).
 
Illinois College also edged the Rams at No. 1 doubles, 8-7 (4).
 
Against Monmouth, the Rams swept all three doubles matches with wins from No. 1 Johnson/Ann Bradley (8-5), No. 2 Mink/Small (8-7) and No. 3 Jacobson/McKeever (8-0).
 
Jacobson (7-6, 6-2), Small (6-3, 6-1), Drake (6-1, 6-0) and McKeever (6-0, 6-0) were straight-set singles winners against the Fighting Scots.
 
Coming up – Cornell competes at the MWC Individual Championships Oct. 15-16 in Madison, Wis. The Doubles Championships are contested Saturday, followed by the Singles Championships Sunday.