tiffin 8, bc 1

By Ben Risinger, SID
September 18, 2003


BLUFFTON, OHIO – The Bluffton College women’s tennis team dropped an 8-1 decision to Tiffin University, Thursday evening, despite forcing tiebreak games in two of the singles matches.

            The lone win for the Beavers came at #1 singles, where freshman Jenna Liechty battled back after dropping the first set to claim the match 4-6, 6-2, 7-5, over 2003 All-AMC opponent Julia Grove.  The Beavers also received tough singles matches from sophomores Kara Schrock and Julie Harsha, who both fought back after dropping their first sets to force tiebreak games to finish the second sets.  Though both dropped the tiebreak games, their resiliency showed. 

            “I was extremely pleased with our physical and mental ability to fight our way back into matches after a slow start,” said Coach Nate Smith.  “It’s easy to see the improvement we have been making.  The thing we need to work on now is just bringing that mindset and energy into the beginning of our matches.”

            Junior Stephanie Keefe and freshman Lisa Cherry also played hard-fought matches.  Keefe nearly put herself in position to force a tiebreak in her second set, while Cherry’s match never had more than one game separation between the two sides at each changeover.  The first doubles for Bluffton of Liechty and Keefe had yet another tough battle against the Dragons.  Having won in a tiebreak the first time the two teams played, Tiffin’s duo was able to repeat and close out the match at 8-6 this time.  Schrock and Cherry, meanwhile, improved three games against their familiar foe, dropping an 8-4 decision.

            The Beavers fall to 1-4 with the loss, and will return to HCAC play this weekend when they travel to Defiance for two dual matches, against the host Yellow Jackets and Hanover College.

 

Singles

#1 – Jenna Liechty (BC) def. Julia Grove (TU); 4-6, 6-2, 7-5

#2 – Laura Jenn-Blanc (TU) def. Stephanie Keefe (BC); 6-1, 6-4

#3 – Dena Haehn (TU) def. Kara Schrock (BC); 6-2, 7-6 (7-1)

#4 – Amy Laughlin (TU) def. Lisa Cherry (BC); 6-4, 6-4

#5 – Kelly Monnier (TU) def. Jenni Blose (BC); 6-0, 6-1

#6 – Ebony Greenlee (TU) def. Julie Harsha (BC); 6-4, 7-6 (7-2)

 

Doubles

#1 – Grove/Haehn (TU) def. Liechty/Keefe (BC); 8-6

#2 – Monnier/Jenn-Blanc (TU) def. Schrock/Cherry (BC); 8-4

#3 – Greenlee/Tolland (TU) def. Blose/Harsha (BC); 8-3