The Oberlin College women’s tennis team continued their model of consistency under head coach Don Hunsinger. The Yeowomen ended their season with a fifth place finish in the North Coast Athletic Conference last weekend on their home courts. Oberlin accumulated an impressive season record of 14-6 and an NCAC record of 5-2.

“They improved tremendously and exceeded every expectation we had for them,” Hunsinger said.

Last weekend, at the North Coast Athletic Conference Tennis Championships, hosted by Oberlin, the Yeowomen started the tournament as a fourth seed.

In the first round, Oberlin faced the fifth seed Wittenberg University.

The Yeowomen wasted no time taking two of first three doubles matches, grabbing an early 2-1 lead in the match. But the Tigers battled back, winning five of six singles matches to clinch a 5-3 victory.

Junior Ary Amerikaner was the lone victor for the Yeowomen at the number one singles slot. Her opponent, Emily Figel, was ranked No. 19 in the Midwest region.

Amerikaner won a 6-2, 6-1 decision to finish with an impressive 10 wins on the season.

“Wittenberg played very well in singles. After that, we responded and finished strong,” Hunsinger said.

The strong finish Hunsinger alluded to was evident in the following two matches for Oberlin. After the close opening round loss to the Tigers, Oberlin battled the Quakers of Earlham College. Oberlin dominated Earlham and took the match 5-0 in easy fashion.

“I was very impressed with how the women pulled together,” assistant coach Adam Shoemaker said. “They really laid the groundwork for success in 2004-2005.”

After splitting the first two matches, Oberlin took on the College of Wooster in the match to decide fifth and sixth place. Oberlin once again dominated, winning an easy 5-0 decision for a fifth place conference finish.

On the season, junior Jessica Hauser led the Yeowomen with a 16-3 record at the fourth singles slot. Amerikaner and first-year Bianca Barr led the team with 11 doubles victories at first doubles.

The team will lose one senior this spring, Whitney Reichheld, who was an integral part of the team’s success in her three seasons of tennis at Oberlin. When asked about next year’s team, Hunsinger was excited and optimistic about he future.

“It looks like we are going to take a step forward and get stronger,” he said.