Yeowomen win final three going into NCACs

In her singles match against Ohio Wesleyan University, sophomore Kate Petersen lost control. She smacked the ball out of the court, over the fence, hitting the back of Hales Gymnasium.

As the home team coach, head coach Don Hunsinger was forced to award Petersen's opponent a one-point penalty for ball-abuse. Hunsinger said, "We don't want to be like the NBA or the NFL."

Despite Petersen's outburst, the Yeowomen kept careful control over the match. Petersen regained her focus to win her match in three sets and secure a 5-4 Oberlin victory.

The Yeowomen edged OWU after losing to them three weeks ago at the GLCA tournament. The victory guaranteed Oberlin a third place finish in the conference.

The first doubles team of junior Bethany Pribila and senior Helen Kang faced an undefeated team from OWU. Pribila and Kang played hard but the Bishops retained their perfect record with an 8-2 victory.

The second and third doubles teams were the key to victory. Junior Erika Bradford and first-year Tara Sievers came from behind to win their match 9-7, while Del Rio and Petersen doubled up on their opponents, 8-4.

In singles, Sievers took her opponent in straight sets. Pribila played excellently against OWU's top seed, ranked seventh in the nation. Pribila forced a tie-breaker in the fourth set before falling 7-6 (7-2).

Oberlin also nabbed two easy wins this week, crushing John Carroll University and Baldwin-Wallace College 7-2.

This weekend the Yeowomen finish up their season at the NCAC tournament. The Yeowomen hope to avenge their loss to second-seed Denison University and claim second in league, behind tennis powerhouse Kenyon College. The Yeowomen will have to beat the sixth seeded team before meeting Denison.

Kang said, "We have a really good chance to beat Denison."

Pribila and Kang's hopes of going to Nationals this year were shattered when Hunsinger found out that only one doubles team and one singles team would be invited, with the remaining spots taken by teams.

The team has been pleased with the season. Pribila has beaten the 28th singles player in the country and Kang and Pribila have teamed up to beat the 15th-ranked doubles team in Division III. As a team, the Yeowomen's only losses have come at the hands of nationally ranked squads.

Aiming high: Bethany Pribila reaches up. (photo by Dave Bechhoefer)