DePauw invitational

DePauw Recap

By Ben Risinger, SID

September 14, 2003

   The Bluffton College women’s tennis team gained some valuable tournament experience this past weekend by competing at the DePauw University Women’s Tennis Fall Invitational.  The strong tournament gave the Beavers a look at some of the best players in the Central Region, as well as preparing them for the format that will be used at the HCAC Championships.

   The tournament, hosted by last year’s Central Region champions, featured strong competition from across the region.  Participating schools included DePauw, Indiana-Southeast, Baldwin-Wallace, Rose-Hulman, Sinclair Community College, and Bluffton.  DePauw finished last year ranked sixth nationally, while IUSE and Baldwin-Wallace are perennial contenders in their respective conferences.

   The Beavers received strong matches at the top position from freshman Jenna Liechty, who held leads late in both sets of her opening-round loss to Sinclair’s Kristen Gibson.  Junior Stephanie Keefe, meanwhile, picked up the lone victory for the Beavers, when she defeated her second-round opponent to earn her way into the consolation championship match.  Sophomore Kara Schrock, playing third singles for the Beavers, drew the toughest assignment of any Beaver player this weekend, as both her singles matches pitted her against DePauw Tigers.  Schrock started well, holding an early two-game lead over eventual flight champion Katherine Nicholson, before succumbing to one of the region’s top players. 

   The Beavers play at home this Thursday against Tiffin.

#1 Singles - 1^st Round – Kristen Gibson (SCC) def. Jenna Liechty (BC); 6-4, 7-5

Consolation – Sarah Juzwik (BW) def. Liechty (BC); 6-1, 6-3

#2 Singles - 1^st Round – Megan Lafferty (RH) def. Stephanie Keefe (BC); 6-2, 6-1

Consolation – Keefe (BC) def. Tracy Dooley (SCC); 7-5, 6-2

5^th Place – Jenni Townsend (IUSE) def. Keefe (BC); 8-0

#3 Singles - 1^st Round – Katherine Nicholson (DPU) def. Kara Schrock (BC); 6-2, 6-1

5^th Place – Lauren Zakaras (DPU) def. Schrock (BC); 8-1

#4 Singles - 1^st Round – Kathryn Magill (DPU) def. Lisa Cherry (BC); 6-1, 6-0

5^th Place – Sarah Mumaw (IUSE) def. Cherry (BC); 8-3

#5 Singles - Semifinals – Katie Knepper (DPU) def. Jenni Blose (BC); 6-1, 6-0

3^rd Place – Katie Gartner (BW) def. Blose (BC); 8-0

#6 Singles - 1^st Round – Victoria Lee (RH) def. Julie Harsha (BC); 6-3, 6-2

5^th Place – Whitney Burich (IUSE) def. Harsha (BC); 8-0

#1 Doubles - 1^st Round – Gonnerman/Lafferty (RH) def. Liechty/Keefe (BC); 6-1, 6-4

Consolation – Juzwik/Isaac (BW) def. Liechty/Keefe (BC); 6-2, 6-4

#2 Doubles - Semifinals – Zakaras/Magill (DPU) def. Schrock/Cherry (BC); 6-0, 6-1

3^rd Place – Mumaw/Bielski (IUSE) def. Schrock/Cherry (BC); 8-0

#3 Doubles - 1^st Round – Wright/Knepper (DPU) def. Blose/Harsha (BC); 6-0, 6-0

Consolation – Dooley/Burich (SCC/IUSE) def. Blose/Harsha (BC); 6-1, 6-2