WICHITA, Kan. - The Northern Iowa tandem of Krissy Lankelma and Phoebe Walker defeated Evansville's Natasha James and Kelsey Costales 8-4 to claim first place in the No. 1 doubles flight of the Missouri Valley Conference Individuals tournament Sunday.
Lankelma, a 2010 Marshalltown High School graduate, was a part of the only Panther contingent to advance to Sunday's third and final day of play. Lankelma and Walker went 3-0 over the weekend, starting with an upset victory over top-seeded Melanie Delsart and Korey Love of Southern Illinois, 9-8, in the quarterfinals.
In Flight 2 singles play, Lankelma lost in straight sets to James (7-5, 6-1) but won her two consolation matches to place fifth. A two-time Iowa high school state singles champion, Lankelma is 2-4 in singles competition.