8th at HCAC champs

   INDIANAPOLIS, IND. – The Bluffton College women’s tennis team wrapped up their fall season this last weekend at the HCAC Championships, hosted at the West Indy Racquet Club.  The Beavers finished eighth as a team, but showed improvement once again, with solid performances in many flights.

   “I’m definitely proud of the effort we gave this weekend, “said Coach Nate Smith.  “This conference just keeps getting deeper and better throughout the flights, and we’re part of that improvement.  I received many great compliments from opposing coaches and players throughout the weekend, as we showed the heart that we’ve played with all year.  We battled through injuries and fatigue the entire tournament, but I think we’re right on the doorstep of having a real competitive program here.”


   The accolades also came in the form of some hardware for the Beavers’ top singles player, freshman Jenna Liechty.  Liechty was named All-HCAC and Freshman of the Year for her performances throughout the season.  Liechty picked up a win in her playback match against Defiance’s Allison Scheu, battling back from a one-set deficit to claim the 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 victory.  Liechty also played tough in her first-round match with Franklin’s Kelly Vance.  In her 6-1, 6-3 loss to Vance, Liechty became the first Bluffton tennis player to ever win a game against Vance, as she was even able to reel off three games in a row during the second set against the four-time HCAC MVP.  Liechty also tasted success in doubles play to finish the tournament, as her and partner Kara Schrock defeated the top doubles team from Mount St. Joseph in their seventh-place match on Saturday.


   The doubles victory completed a perfect final day for Schrock, who also won her seventh-place match at #3 singles earlier in the day, defeating Hanover’s Sarah Pollom, 6-2, 6-4.   Another athlete who went undefeated on the final day of competition was junior Stephanie Keefe, who finished seventh at #2 singles for the second consecutive year, and also teamed up with partner Lisa Cherry to defeat the #2 doubles team from Anderson in the seventh-place match.  Keefe and Cherry were the hard-luck duo for much of the tournament, extending to third-set super tiebreak games in all their matches during the championships.  The win over Anderson, 10-4 in the super tiebreak, provided redemption for the two earlier super tiebreak losses, both against teams which the duo had defeated during the regular season.  As a team, the Beavers had five losses come in third sets.  Schrock and Cherry both lost close three-set matches in their singles flights, as did Liechty. 


   Jenni Blose and Julie Harsha rounded out Bluffton’s lineup at the tournament, competing at #5 and #6 singles, respectively, and together at #3 doubles.  The duo finished the tournament with their closest match of the weekend, falling to Defiance.  Blose also finished with a tough loss to Sarah Shuff of Defiance, losing 6-3, 6-4. 


   Bluffton finished the season with three wins in dual matches, the most for the Beavers over the last five seasons. Results following –

Individual Results by Flight

 

#1 Singles

1st Round – Kelly Vance (FC) def. Jenna Liechty (BC); 6-1, 6-3

Playback – Liechty (BC) def. Allison Scheu (DC); 4-6, 6-1, 6-2

4th Place – Megan Parrott (HC) def. Liechty (BC); 2-6, 6-2, 6-3

Final Place – 6th Place

 

#2 Singles

1st Round – Kylee VonDeylen (DC) def. Stephanie Keefe (BC); 6-1, 6-3

Playback – Beth Fansler (TU) def. Keefe (BC); 7-5, 6-4

7th Place – Keefe (BC) def. Laura Jay (AU); default

Final Place – 7th Place

 

#3 Singles

1st Round – Rachel Goodman (TU) def. Kara Schrock (BC); 6-1, 6-3

Playback – Christina Nemec (MSJ) def. Schrock (BC); 5-7, 6-1, 6-4

7th Place – Schrock (BC) def. Sarah Pollom (HC); 6-2, 6-4

Final Place – 7th Place

 

#4 Singles

1st Round – Kirby Jasper (MC) def. Lisa Cherry (BC); 6-0, 6-1

Playback – Paige Bolhus (AU) def. Cherry (BC); 6-1, 6-0

7th Place – Jodi Waidelich (DC) def. Cherry (BC); 1-6, 6-1, 6-3

Final Place – 8th Place

 

#5 Singles

1st Round – Anna Merryman (MC) def. Jenni Blose (BC); 6-0, 6-0

Playback – Sara Beth Ratliff (HC) def. Blose (BC); 6-2, 6-1

7th Place – Sarah Shuff (DC) def. Blose (BC); 6-3, 6-4

Final Place – 8th Place

 

#6 Singles

1st Round – Laura Hunter (MC) def. Julie Harsha (BC); 6-0, 6-0

Playback – Erin Williams (DC) def. Harsha (BC); 6-0, 6-0

7th Place – Lauren Van Benten (HC) def. Harsha (BC); 6-2, 6-2

Final Place – 8th Place

 

#1 Doubles

1st Round – Scheu/VonDeylen (DC) def. Liechty/Schrock (BC); 7-5, 6-1

Playback – Parrott/Ream (HC) def. Liechty/Schrock (BC); 6-2, 6-1

7th Place – Liechty/Schrock (BC) def. Fisher/Gering (MSJ); 7-5, 6-4

Final Place – 7th Place

 

#2 Doubles

1st Round – Nemec/Stocksdale (MSJ) def. Keefe/Cherry (BC); 4-6, 6-3, (10-5)

Playback – Reichard/Waidelich (DC) def. Keefe/Cherry (BC); 6-2, 6-7(3), (10-4)

7th Place – Keefe/Cherry (BC) def. Bolhus/Heyne (AU); 1-6, 6-2, (10-4)

Final Place – 7th Place

 

#3 Doubles

1st Round – Jasper/Hunter (MC) def. Blose/Harsha (BC); 6-1, 6-0

Playback – Shoemaker/Lowe (TU) def. Blose/Harsha (BC); 6-3, 6-0

7th Place – Dye/Williams (DC) def. Blose/Harsha (BC); 6-2, 6-4

Final Place – 8th Place