Women's Tennis drop one

The women's tennis team dropped their first match last Saturday to end their unbeaten streak at two. The team fell to Carnegie Mellon University, 5-4.

"I really don't view it as a loss, because everyone played as well as they could," Coach Don Hunsinger said.

The absence of co-captain senior Erika Bradford, to a medical school reception, and the bronchitis of first-year Jill Brockelman contributed to a depleted Yeowomen lineup. With their regular lineup, Hunsinger had predicted a 6-3 Oberlin triumph.

"The only reason we won't do well is if someone[near the top of the ladder] gets sick or injured, then the whole ladder moves up [and everyone has tougher matches]," Brockelman said.

Co-captain senior Bethany Pribila, the number one singles player, faced Carnegie's Kari Mills in the most closely contested battle of the match. Mills is one of the top ranked players in Division III. Pribila played tough, but was edged out in a tiebreaker, losing 3-6, 6-7(2-7).

First-year Leigh Ann Totty and sophomore Tara Sievers, second and third singles, both blasted their opponents, 6-1, 6-4, and 6-1, 6-3, respectively.

Several Yeowomen were competing in their first or second college match ever. Conservatory fourth-year, but first-year tennis player, Kathy Hertzer fell in number six singles 5-7, 2-6. First-year Aeli Jeon won hers 6-0, 6-4.

"Aeli played really well," Brockelman said. "The first time [she played] she was nervous, but this time she played really well."

In number one doubles, Pribila and Sievers were up, 5-2, but lost 6-8. The number three doubles team of Hertzer and Jeon also fell 6-8.

Junior Kate Petersen and Totty gave Oberlin its only doubles victory, dismantling Carnegie's second doubles team, 8-1.

The match is one of the team's last tune-ups for its spring break competition.

The team is psyched for its Spring Break trip to Atlanta to take on Agnes Scott College, and defending Division III champion, Emory University. The team will then play at Orange Lake Country Club near Orlando, Florida.

The team has two home matches this weekend, against Otterbein College Saturday and Youngstown State Sunday.

When the team gets back from Florida, they have their first conference match on Mar. 27 against Case Western Reserve University.