Women's tennis team topples timid Otterbein

Decisive 7-2 victory launches team record over .500

The women's tennis team trampled the competition on Saturday, surrendering only two points in their resounding 7-2 victory over Otterbein College.

After wins two weeks in a row, the Yeowomen's record stands at 2-1.

"I think everyone played really well. I felt that all the doubles played very strong in order to pull out those three points," said junior Leigh Ann Totty, co-captain of the team.

"I think we are focusing more," said first-year Beth Krupski, who won her match 6-0, 7-5.

The entire team is producing well and is not limited to a few discreet stars.

"I am very impressed with Beth's [Krupski] first set, she just dominated, and in the second set she got tired," said Coach Don Hunsinger. This was the first singles match of Krupski's college career.

The team's 'player of the week' was sophomore Jill Brockelman. "Her play was consistently good throughout the match. She maintained a good level," Hunsinger said.

Brockelman won her singles match 6-0, 6-1, and said, "My match was the easiest match so far, but my doubles was really close and that was exciting." She also said that it was nice that the teams managed to fit in three exhibition matches. "It's good because a lot of players get to play and get experience," said Brockelman.

This is important as a few good players such as first-year Claudia Martinez, who promised to be a serious contributor this year, had to pull out of the season due to injury. First-years Rachel and Heather Barbee also opted not to play due to injury.

In singles, Totty won 6-4, 6-3. "I played well. I was happy just staying intense though the whole match," Totty said.

The 'shot of the week' belongs to junior Tara Sievers. "Sievers had a great lob, she set it up very well," said Hunsinger, describing it as, "a winner." Sievers won her match 6-0, 6-2.

Out of the nine games the two losses were by co-captain senior Kate Petersen who lost 6-4, 6-2 and first-year Gayle Nadorff who lost 6-4, 7-5.

In doubles the team pulled through with three strong wins.

Totty and Sievers won 8-1 in a match which was the best doubles match the team has played this year according to Hunsinger. Hunsinger said, "They were ahead 7-0 before the other team won a game."

In the second match Brockelman and Petersen won 8-4, and fifth-year Kathy Hertzer and sophomore Aeli Jeon won the third 8-6.

"I think the playing will only get better. Right now we're in the hump with midterms but after the vacation with the team [in South Carolina] we play all the conference teams. Everyone will be more mentally prepared because when playing these teams we'll all need to be there," Totty said.

After Spring Break the team will play the powerhouse conference teams such as Denison University and returning Conference champions Kenyon College.

The coach however, has full faith in the team's abilities. "I think technically we'll continue to improve at a good pace and the conditioning will definitely improve," Hunsinger said.

"It's like a two pronged plug, illness has kept a lot of people from being at practice and even when their at practice they're not healthy enough to make it viable. It has nothing to do with effort. A lot is also conditioning. It's not attitude, it's experience."

A swing and a hit: Sophomore Jill Brockleman delivers a smooth forehand at practice this week. The women are enjoying success this winter and hope to carry that momentum into their regular season of Conference play. The women crushed Otterbein College 7-2 last weekend. Both tennis teams gear up for their annual Spring Break trip to Hilton Head, SC. (photo by James Cochran)