Posted: Jan 01, 2001
2001 Tigers have big season in
their sights
The Wittenberg University women's tennis team may be young, but the Tigers still expect results. Despite a string of seasons in which the Tigers struggled to break even, winning in 2000-01 may not just be a goal, but a reality. Coming off an 11-13 season and facing the always tough North Coast Athletic Conference schedule, the task will not be easy, but it is realistic.
A pair of sophomores, Erin Beach (Dayton, Ohio/Vandalia-Butler) and Shannon Oliphant (Columbus, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson) will lead the charge this year. Both are coming off winning freshman campaigns and enjoyed success during the brief fall season in 2000 as well. Beach ran up a 16-2 record at No. 2 singles last year and a 17-5 overall singles mark. In doubles, the tandem teamed up for a 14-8 mark at the No. 1 position and then finished second in the fall ITA Tournament. Oliphant's singles record was 13-10 in 2000.
But Beach and Oliphant are just the beginning. Among the other underclassmen battling for playing time are freshmen Valerie Allen (Cincinnati, Ohio/Colerain),Emily Kingsley (Grosse Pointe, Mich./North), Megan Maher (Chagrin Falls, Ohio/Kenston) and Deana Nowakowski (Uniontown, Ohio/Lake), sophomoreWhitney Duren (Lebanon, Ohio/Lebanon) and junior Melanie Wight (Hombrechtikon, Switzerland/Gymnasium Wetzikon).
The lone senior on the roster, Sara Deskin (Youngstown, Ohio/Ursuline), contributes as a starter. She had a 6-6 singles mark in 2000 and a 3-2 record in doubles.