Season Outlook

Allison Earhart

WomenWith a successful fall season, the Wittenberg University men's and women's tennis teams hope that the victories continue into the spring. This year marks Head Coach Pablo Russo's second at the helm and he hopes to show two very young teams the way to win.

For the second year in a row, the women's team appears to have more experience. The team is buoyed by the return of junior No. 1 singles and doubles player Allison Earhart (Yorktown, Ind./Yorktown). Last year, Earhart racked up six wins and was named Honorable Mention All-North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) in singles despite an injury that limited her playing time. Earhart picked up right where she left off this fall season as she posted a 2-0 record in dual matches playing in the No. 1 singles position.

The Tiger women will also receive help from sophomore Marisa Pechawar (Springfield, Ohio/ Catholic Central) who had a very successful freshman campaign. Pechawar posted a 9-5 record while playing in the No. 5 and No. 6 singles slot a year ago. In the fall, Pechawar posted a 2-0 record in dual matches. Sophomore Emily Nash (Hilliard, Ohio/Davidson) will also provide depth for the team as she finished last year with a 6-8 record playing mainly No. 5 singles. Nash went 1-1 this fall in duel matches while playing No. 5 and No. 4 singles.

Other players who figure to see time are junior Kat Sundstrum (Trafalgar, Ind./North Central) and sophomore Sean Delaney (Powell, Ohio/Worthington Christian) who will make her debut for the Red and White this year, and seven promising freshmen, led by Jayne Miely (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) andElizabeth Micheletti (Glenview, Ill./Glenbard West), who played No. 2 and 3 singles respectively in the fall.

Brad Seymour

MenOn the men's side, the Tigers are led again by junior No. 1 singles and doubles player Brad Seymour (Chillicothe, Ohio/Chillicothe). Last year, Seymour posted an 8-10 overall record and was named second-team All-NCAC for his efforts. During the team's fall season, Seymour went 1-1 in dual matches playing No. 1 singles, beating his NCAC rival from Ohio Wesleyan. 

Sophomores Craig Lods (Chillicothe, Ohio/Chillicothe), who played mostly No. 2 singles, Rob Lehner (Gahanna, Ohio/St. Francis DeSales), who played mostly No. 4 singles, and Greg Harvey (Urbana, Ohio/Urbana), who played mostly No. 5 singles, all look to help Seymour lead a young Tiger team. This fall, Lods went 2-0 and Lehner went 1-1 in dual matches. Junior Andrew Young (Mansfield, Ohio/Senior), who played No. 2 through No. 5 singles in the fall, also looks to see playing time and help the team this season.

Much like the women, the men will have a lot of youth in the program. Junior Dan McNeely (Beavercreek, Ohio/Xenia Christian) will make his collegiate debut for the tennis team this season as will four freshmen who look to get into the mix.