The Dominican University women’s tennis 2011-2012 campaign drew to a close on Friday morning, with the Stars falling to the Warriors of Wisconsin Lutheran College 5-1 in the Northern Athletics Conference (NAC) Tournament semifinals.
 
The Stars had their work cut out for them, facing the top-seeded Warriors and quickly fell behind 3-0 after doubles play.  NAC Freshman of the Year Kornelia Nowaczyk (Konin, Poland) and teammate Elizabeth Nelson (Riverside, Ill.) fell to the Warriors’ Kaitlyn Strehlow, the NAC Player of the Year, and teammate Kathryn Hendee at number one doubles, 8-2, while Dominican’s freshman duo of Rosemary Orchanian (Portage, Mich.) and Jennifer LoRusso (Burbank, Ill.) fell for just the fifth time all season at number three doubles by the same 8-2 count.
 
In singles play, Nelson and Nowaczyk fell to the Warriors Strehlow and Hendee at one and two singles respectively to seal the victory for the Warriors.
 
The Stars lone tally was picked up at number six singles as Monica Budzak (Chicago, Ill.) picked up a convincing 6-1, 6-1 victory over Wisconsin Lutheran’s Erin Mathiak.  Budzak closes out her junior campaign with an 11-3 record in singles action.
 
Dominican’s season draws to a close with a 10-6 overall record, setting the program record for wins in a season.  The Stars went 8-3 in the NAC regular season and topped the MSOE Raiders in the first round of the NAC Tournament, 5-3 on Tuesday night.