By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
Never before in the history of the Dowagiac girls' tennis program have the Chieftains defeated Lakeshore.
That was until Monday.
Dowagiac secured a second place finish in the Big 16 Conference West Division and an automatic bid into the league's post season Gold Tournament with a 5-3 victory in Stevensville.
The victory wasn't complete until No. 1 and No. 2 singles players Lisa Rubino and Ann O'Keefe won three-set thrillers that ended just moments apart from each another.
Rubino's victory came first, which gave Dowagiac no worse than a tie with the Lady Lancers.
O'Keefe then completed her match to give the Chieftains the victory.
Lisa Rubino defeated Raelyn Althoff, 6-1, 1-6 and 6-3, while O'Keefe defeated Jordan Rajweski 6-2, 3-6 and 6-3.
Dowagiac's No. 3 and No. 4 singles players - Taylor Townsend and Amelia First - both won in straight sets.
Rubino also singled out the play of his doubles squads, especially at No. 1 where Calie Daniels and Lindsay Tyler were winners.
Tyler and Daniels defeated Christie Packer and Carly Knauf 6-1 and 7-6. Tyler and Daniels won the tiebreaker 7-2.
Dowagiac will now host Portage Central on Wednesday in the first Big 16 crossover match at 4:30 p.m.
Dowagiac…5
Lakeshore…3
Singles
1. Lisa Rubino (D) d. Raelyn Althoff 6-1, 1-6, 6-3; 2. Ann O'Keefe (D) d. Jordan Rajweski 6-2, 3-6, 6-3; 3. Taylor Townsend (D) d. Lauren Rajweski 6-2, 6-4; 4. Ameila First (D) d. Clarie Krieger 6-4, 7-5
Doubles
1. Lindsay Tyler/Calie Daniels (D) d. Christie Packer/Carly Knauf 6-1, 7-6; 2. Katie Corbett/Courtney Slevin (L) d. Ashley Smith/Kim Rutkowski 6-4, 6-1; 3. Sloan Tackett/Courtney Fitchuk (L) beat Shelly Urbanski/Kayleigh Sundman 1-6, 6-4, 6-4; 4. Lane Blackmer/Katie Gershoffer (L) beat Samantha Stone/Elizabeth Kolden 6-2, 6-0
Varsity records: Dowagiac 5-1, SMAC West 2-1