October 9, 2006
BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University women's tennis team swept its final match of the year against the Mount St. Joseph Lions (3-9, 0-7 HCAC) on Monday, October 9, 2006. The contest finally took place after being postponed three times due to inclement weather conditions. With the victory, Bluffton (2-12, 2-6 HCAC) assured itself of a spot in the upcoming Heartland Conference Championships on October 13-14. Following the addition of Rose-Hulman to the HCAC, the championships include only the top eight finishers during the regular season.
In the only closely contested match of the afternoon, the no.1 doubles tandem of Jenna Liechty (Goshen, Ind./Bethany Christian) and Courtney Hodson (Washington Court House/Washington Senior) found themselves down 6-1 before they turned the tables on their counterparts from the Mount and took eight of the next nine games for the 9-7 victory. Chelsey Wenger (Bellefontaine/Bellefontaine) and Rachel Huckaba (Perrysburg/Perrysburg) had little trouble at second doubles as they dispatched the Lions by a count of 8-3. The third doubles team of Devra Doan (Wooster/Central Christian) and Lisa Cherry (Waterville/Anthony Wayne) dominated their opponents, 8-2.
Liechty was victorious at no. 1 singles in the final regular season match of her career by a score of 6-2, 6-3. At second singles, Wenger knocked off Katie Weisbecker, sister of Bluffton University softball player Carrie Weisbecker, 6-4, 6-3. Hodson and Cherry gave up only one game apiece at no. 3 and no. 4 singles, respectively. Huckaba picked up her second win of the night with a 6-0, 6-2 decision at no. 5 singles. Jenna Kauffman (Wooster/Central Christian) won all 12 games as she shut out her opponent at sixth singles.
Thanks to its victory over the Lions, Bluffton earned the right to play in the Heartland Conference Championships this weekend, October 13-14, 2006. The Beavers will likely be matched against Rose-Hulman, the tournament's second seed.
Bluffton 9, Mount St. Joseph 0
Singles
No. 1 Jenna Liechty (B) def. Julia Gering (MSJ) 6-2, 6-3
No. 2 Chelsey Wenger (B) def. Katie Weisbecker (MSJ) 6-4, 6-3
No. 3 Courtney Hodson (B) def. Laura Robison (MSJ) 6-1, 6-0
No. 4 Lisa Cherry (B) def. Sarah Archer (MSJ) 6-1, 6-0
No. 5 Rachel Huckaba (B) def. Cathleen Mahin (MSJ) 6-0, 6-2
No. 6 Jenna Kauffman (B) def. Allison Tonnis (MSJ) 6-0, 6-0
Doubles
No. 1 Liechty/Hodson (B) def. Gering/Robison (MSJ) 9-7
No. 2 Wenger/Huckaba (B) def. Weisbecker/Archer (MSJ) 8-3
No. 3 Devra Doan/Cherry (B) def. Caraline Kennedy/Mahin (MSJ) 8-2
