Bluffton finishes season at 4-6, fifth in Heartland Conference
By: Adam Meekhof, Sports Information Intern
October 14, 2004
BLUFFTON, Ohio – The Bluffton University women’s tennis team (4-6, 3-4 HCAC) finished their season at the HCAC championships by placing fifth overall.
The team finished the year with four wins in dual matches, which is an improvement from last season. The Beavers also improved their mark in the conference tournament by placing fifth in the championships compared to eighth last year.
The season saw many improvements for the team that is very young with only two upperclassman. Leading the way for Bluffton was sophomore Jenna Liechty (Goshen, Ind./Bethany Christian) as she was named to her second all-conference team. Freshman Chelsey Person (Bellefontaine/Bellefontaine) led the way for the newcomers posting an 8-2 record in dual match play and an impressive 6-1 record in HCAC play in the No. 6 singles position. Senior Stephanie Keefe (Tiffin/Calvert) had an excellent last year posting an 7-3 record in singles dual match play and going 5-2 in conference play at the No. 3 spot.
With seven players returning next season the Beavers hope that this year was a stepping stone of better things to come. With the doubles team of sophomore Lisa Cherry (Waterville/Anthony Wayne) and Person who went 7-3 overall in dual matches in the No. 3 position; the team should expect many more good things to come in the future.
The rest of the squad played well and hopes to improve next year. Junior Kara Schrock (Middlebury Ind./Northridge) posted a 3-7 record overall in dual match play and will hope to improve on that for her final season next year. Freshman Kelly Metzger (Bluffton/Bluffton) had the toughest season for the Beavers going 1-8 overall. Freshman Bree Fetterman (North Royalton/Padua Franciscan) and Kathleen Tebbe (Lexington Tenn./Memorial) saw limited action this year and are hoping that a good off-season will help them improve.
