Women's Tennis has tough matches at GLCA's

Last weekend at the Great Lakes Collegiate Athletics tournament, first-year Jill Brockelman was put on the spot. Usually the number six singles player, Brockelman, moved up to number four after the absences of junior Kate Petersen and sophomore Tara Sievers. And she stepped up to three of the best teams in the region.

The Yeowomen lost 1-8 to Hope College, 0-9 to Kalamazoo College, and 1-5 to DePauw University.

Brockelman beat her opponent from Hope, 6-4, 0-6, 7-5, the team ranked number six in the region. She dragged her match out to three sets against her opponent from Kalamazoo, losing 6-4, 2-6, 6-1 and played competitively against her opponent from Depauw University, falling 6-2, 6-1.

"She played exceptionally well," coach Don Hunsinger said. "She rose to the occasion and played extremely competitively, brilliant."

The women's tennis team dropped all three matches at the tournament. Hope is the sixth ranked team in the Midwest Region, Kalamazoo the ninth ranked team, and Depauw is the fourth ranked team in the region. Wednesday the Yeowomen came back to beat the College of Wooster 7-2 bringing their overall record to 8-7, (2-1 in conference).

The three matches at the GLCAs are probably going to be the toughest matches for the rest of the season for the Yeowomen.

Both captains also performed well at the tournament. Co-captain senior Erica Bradford played her best match of the year according to Hunsinger, but still lost to her opponent from Kalamazoo College 6-3, 6-4.

Saturday, Bradford and fellow captain senior Bethany Pribila paired to beat Depauw's number one doubles team, 8-5.

"We rocked that day. We played awesome," Pribila said. "The best match we've ever played together."

The Yeowomen's double play, especially at number one doubles has improved steadily from the beginning the year.

Against the College of Wooster, the Yeowomen swept the doubles competition for their victory.

Sophomore Leigh Ann Totty, number two singles, won her match 7-5, 6-3. While Bradford and Brockelman continued to dismount their opponents, each losing only one game, on their way to 6-1, 6-0 and 6-0, 6-1 victories. Both players who missed the GLCA fell in singles play, Sievers fell in three sets, 5-7, 6-3, 6-2 and Petersen lost, 6-0, 6-0.

This week the Yeowomen continue in their quest to place second in conference with three of their toughest conference matches. Saturday they play at Allegheny University, whose record is an impressive 16-1. Tuesday they host Denison, usually their toughest rivalry, for second place in the conference. Thursday the team plays at John Carroll University.