Caroline Sproule Excels At ITA Central Region Championships

KALAMAZOO, MI - The Wittenberg women's tennis team sent a lone representative to Kalamazoo College for the annual Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Central Region championships. That lone representative acquitted herself quite well as senior Caroline Sproule (Lewis Center, OH / Olentangy Orange) bounced back from a straight-sets defeat in the main draw to win four matches to reach the semifinals of the consolation bracket.

Sproule came into the competition as one of the seeded players, but after a first round bye she was beaten by against Caitlin Van Winkle of Denison , 6-3, 6-0. She showed great resolve, however, by beating Olivia Bell of Illinois Wesleyan, 6-1, 6-2, to open play in the consolation bracket. Next came wins over Elyse Errington of Wooster and Rachel Allen of Oberlin by convincing margins to reach Sunday's quarterfinal round.

As one of the final eight players remaining in the tournament, Sproule maintained her momentum with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Emilia Sand of North Park. Later in the day, Sproule dropped the first set, 6-2., against Alexandra Pugachova of North Park before taking the second set, 6-2. In the decisive super-tiebreaker, however, Spoule came up just short, dropping a 12-10 decision.

"For only playing one match this fall season, Caroline gained her rhythm back and played well in all six matches," said Head Coach John DeVito. "I can't wait to see what she is capable of this spring, and I am very proud of her for how she performed. She is going to have a great senior season."

The Tiger men's and women's tennis teams will now focus on the spring portion of the 2024-25 season. The schedule currently opens with a full slate of Spring Break matches in Orlando March 9-14.