WESTERVILLE, OHIO—A. Tyler Stephen, a senior from Worthington (Kilbourne High School), earned second team All-Ohio Athletic Conference honors in men’s tennis this season, the OAC announced Thursday. 

This marks the fourth All-OAC honor of Stephen’s career. Stephen, who plays first singles and first doubles for the Cards, earned honorable mention honors his freshmen and junior years, while making All-OAC second team as a sophomore.

“I’m really pleased for Tyler,” said Otterbein head coach Gerry D’Arcy.  “He’s been a cornerstone of our team for four years now. He’s a great player with great hands and a terrific understanding of the game.”

In OAC play this spring, Stephen compiled a record of 3-6 at No. 1 singles, and 4-5 at No. 1 doubles. 

“Other coaches in the OAC know what a great player Tyler is and how much he has improved.  He has an outstanding future ahead of him,” D’Arcy said.
 

Cards Clinch Spot in OAC Tournament
Written April 19, 2008 by Zach Manoogian

WESTERVILLE, OHIO—Otterbein closed regular-season play with a 9-0 victory against Heidelberg at home on Saturday.

“It’s the best we’ve played all season,” said head coach Gerry D’Arcy about the win.  “Everyone played great and contributed to the win against a good opponent, who has won some matches.”

The match marked the first time this season that the Cards won all nine matches in play. In addition, the Cardinals were able to snap the four-match losing streak they had carried into play Saturday. 

John Smith, a freshman from Toledo (Start High School), improved to 3-0 on the week for Otterbein, winning at sixth singles, 6-3 and 6-2.  Tyler Brodhead, a freshman from Gates Mills (Gilmour Academy), delivered for the Cards in fourth singles, 6-0 and 6-2, to improve to 3-1 on the week. 

Otterbein Opens OAC Play at B-W
Written March 28, 2008 by Zach Manoogian

WESTERVILLE, OHIO—The Otterbein men’s tennis team wrapped up a series of four matches in Florida with a 6-3 win over Webber International JV team Tuesday.

The opportunity to get some early work outdoors should benefit the Cardinals as the season progresses.  The Cardinals had started their season at home with three matches played indoors.

“It’s huge,” said head coach Gerry D’Arcy about getting the chance to play outdoors.  “There is such a difference between the indoor and outdoor game.  You really can’t prepare for an outdoor season by only playing indoors.”

In early matches, the Cardinals faced the disadvantage of playing teams that had already been playing in Florida for awhile.  Although Otterbein ultimately came up short, finishing 1-3, the team clearly improved and got better as the week progressed.  “Once we got used to the conditions, we got better as every match moved along,” D’Arcy noted.

The experience gained in Florida should help ready the Cardinals as they return home for Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) play.  The team faces a very challenging start to the conference season.  Although results may not be immediate, D’Arcy remains confident they will show. 

“As the season goes on, our play in Florida will help us as individual players and as a team overall,” D’Arcy said.

The men’s tennis team opens OAC play Saturday at noon, taking on Baldwin-Wallace.  Due to weather, the match has been moved inside to the River Oaks Racquet Club in Rocky River. 

A. Tyler Stephen Earns All-OAC Honors
Written May 3, 2007 by Ed Syguda

WESTERVILLE, OHIO—A. Tyler Stephen, a junior from Worthington (Kilbourne High School), earned honorable mention All-Ohio Athletic Conference honors in men’s tennis this season, the OAC released Thursday.

For Stephen, who plays first singles and first doubles for the Cardinals, this marks the third straight All-OAC award. He was named to the second team as a sophomore, and was an honorable mention pick his freshman season.

“Tyler gives his best every single day,” said Otterbein head coach Gerry D’Arcy. “He has a very good mental strength in the game. He can lose the first set and still be right in the match.”

Stephen compiled a 4-5 record at first singles and a 4-5 mark at first doubles in OAC competition this spring.

Cards Edge Capital for First OAC Win
Written April 9, 2007 by Ed Syguda

WESTERVILLE, OHIO—Otterbein won its first Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) match of the season, edging cross-town rival Capital, 5-4, last Thursday in Westerville.

The Cardinal lineup features just two veterans—three-year letterman Jacob Lauber, a senior from Dover, and two-year letterman A. Tyler Stephen, a junior from Worthington (Worthington Kilbourne High School).

Stephen, a two-time All-OAC performer, scored five of Otterbein’s nine points over three OAC matches last week. He went 2-1 in first singles play and teamed up with Lauber, also a two-time All-OAC selection, for a perfect 3-0 mark at first doubles.

In addition to the win over Capital, the Cardinals dropped a pair of 7-2 decisions to league-leader Mount Union and Wilmington last week.

“Tyler has been very steady, very strong in his performances,” said fourth-year Otterbein head coach Gerry D’Arcy. “He lost against Mount Union, but he played very well.”

David Powers, a junior from Delaware (Rutherford B. Hayes), delivered in the match against Capital, winning at fourth singles in the final and decisive match of the day. Powers partnered with Jordan Green, a freshman from Lockbourne (Hamilton Township), to win third doubles against the Crusaders.

Stephen, Lauber Earn All-OAC Honors
Written May 4, 2006 by Craig Coleman

A Tyler Stephen

A. Tyler Stephen and Jacob Lauber earned All-Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) honors in men’s tennis, the OAC released Thursday.

Stephen, a sophomore from Worthington (Kilbourne High School), was named to the second team, while Lauber, a junior from Dover, was selected to the honorable mention squad.

For the season, Stephen and Lauber tied for third in the OAC with a 6-3 record at No. 1 doubles, including a victory over the doubles team from third-place Baldwin-Wallace and narrow defeats to the doubles teams from fourth-place Muskingum and OAC Tournament champion John Carroll.

Cards Set to Compete at OAC's
Written April 26, 2006 by Craig Coleman

It’s been a season of learning experiences for the youthful Otterbein men’s tennis team.

After a fast start and winning their first two conference matches, the Cardinals struggled down the stretch losing six of their final seven matches.

Going into the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Tournament, hosted by Mount Union in Alliance, the Cardinals hold a 3-14 overall record and are ranked seventh in the OAC at 3-6. With a seventh-seed ranking, Otterbein takes on 10th-seed Capital (2-10, 0-9 OAC), 8 a.m., Friday in the tournament’s first round.

The winner will advance and play second-seed John Carroll (13-5, 7-1 OAC), 1 p.m., Friday.

“We’ve made progress as a team,” said third-year head coach Gerry D’Arcy. “We’re looking forward to the OAC Tournament and doing the best that we can.”

The Cardinals defeated the Crusaders, 6-1, in Columbus April 14. Led by sophomore A. Tyler Stephen at No. 1 singles and junior Jacob Lauber at No. 2 singles, the Cardinals won five of six singles matches and two of three doubles matches.

Stephen, from Worthington (Kilbourne High School), and Lauber, from Dover, teamed together at No. 1 doubles to win 8-1. For the season, Stephen and Lauber posted a 6-3 conference record at No. 1 doubles and were the Cardinals most consistent performers.

Sophomore Adam Warner, from Greenville, gained valuable experience in his first season going 3-6 in conference play, including wins on the road at Capital, Wilmington, and Marietta.

Despite the Cardinals relative inexperience on the court, the team looks to put forth its best effort Friday and—regardless of the outcome—make the most of their opportunities.

Cardinals Top Crusaders
Written April 17, 2006 by Steve Large

Otterbein beat cross-town rival Capital, 6-1, in Bexley last Friday, evening its Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) record at 3-3. The Cardinals won five of six singles matches and two of three doubles competitions.

“This was an important match for us in the conference,” said third-year head coach Gerry D’Arcy. “We felt this was a match in which we could compete, and the guys played very well.”

Sophomore Tyler Stephen, from Worthington (Kilbourne High School) led the Cardinals with a straight set victory over Jerrod Wagner (6-2, 6-0) at No.1 singles, while junior Jacob Lauber, from Dover, followed with a dominating performance at No. 2 singles by beating Jason Long (6-0, 6-2).

Stephen and Lauber also combined at No. 1 doubles to beat Wagner and Long, 8-1.

Other Cardinals earning victories included: sophomore Jeremy Smith, from Springfield (Catholic Central), at No. 3 singles; sophomore Adam Warner, from Greenville, at No. 4 singles; and freshman Dan Ensign, from Westerville (South), at No. 6 singles.

With just one senior on the roster, the Cardinals carry one of the youngest teams in the OAC. Stephen, Lauber, and Warner have been the Cardinals most consistent players, but according to D’Arcy, all the players are making an effort to get better.

“We’re making progress,” D’Arcy said. “We’re learning from each and every match. I thought the Florida trip (early in the season) really helped us. The competition we faced down there was really tough.”

Otterbein continues conference play at John Carroll, 3:30 p.m., Tuesday in University Heights.

Lauber Named OAC Player of the Week
(Written by Craig Coleman 04/03/06)

Jacob Lauber, a junior from Dover, was selected Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) men’s tennis athlete of the week for going a perfect 6-0 between No. 2 singles and No. 1 doubles last week.

Lauber defeated Vladimir Kamnyev of Wilmington (6-4, 6-0), Ryan Callihan of Marietta (6-0, 6-1) and Kevin Kreighbaum of Mount Union (6-1, 4-6, 10-4) in singles play.

Otterbein went 2-1 during the week, earning conference victories over Wilmington and Marietta.

Surprising Cards Move Up in the OAC
(Written by Ed Syguda 04/20/05)

The Otterbein men’s tennis team is turning out to be the surprise in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC).

With just two conference matches to play, Otterbein, under second-year head coach Gerry D’Arcy, finds itself in third place at 5-2, trailing league co-leaders Ohio Northern and Baldwin-Wallace, who are 7-0 in the OAC.

One of the biggest reasons for the improvement—Otterbein finished fifth last season—are the play of a pair of international exchange students.

“It was completely unplanned for,” D’Arcy said. “They just landed in our lap.”

Gijs Boumans, a junior from Maastricht, The Netherlands, and Marcus Van Dijk, a sophomore from Stockholm, Sweden, have combined for a 9-2 singles record in conference matches.

Van Dijk, who has been with the team since preseason practice, came to Otterbein winter quarter. Boumans, who is at Otterbein for just the spring quarter, joined up with the team at the beginning of April.

Van Dijk, playing No. 3 singles, has compiled an 8-2 overall record in singles competition. Boumans, playing No. 1 singles, checks in at 4-1 overall in singles play.

With the pair’s success against some of the best competition in the OAC, D’Arcy has been able to juggle his lineup.

“We’ve been able to move some players down the order, who actually have played higher up,” D’Arcy said. “It’s a nice situation when you can play Jacob (Lauber) at four, Tyler (Stephen) at five, and Brent (Rosen) at six. Brent was playing three last year, and Jacob was playing at two.”

Lauber, a sophomore from Dover, Stephen, a freshman from Worthington (Worthington Kilbourne), Rosen, a sophomore from Columbus (Wellington), and No. 2 singles player Justin Bays, a senior from Findlay (Wheelersburg), have compiled a combined OAC mark of 18-10 in singles matches this season. Stephen holds the best conference mark among teammates, 6-1 in singles play.

Otterbein travels to Muskingum Friday before concluding OAC regular-season play at Heidelberg next Tuesday.

Cards Return Five Lettermen in '05
(Written by Ed Syguda 03/17/05)

Otterbein, under second-year head coach Gerry D’Arcy, returns five lettermen from last season’s squad, which played to a 5-4 Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) record during regular-season play.

“We should be a little bit stronger than last season,” D’Arcy said. “We’re a little bit deeper. There is less of a gap between one and six and their abilities.”

Three-time All-OAC performer Justin Bays heads the list of returning lettermen. The senior tallied an 8-7 overall record, 6-3 in OAC play, at No. 1 singles on his way to first team All-OAC honors in 2004. Bays holds career records of 29-17 in singles play and 28-23 in doubles.

A pair of talented sophomores—Jacob Lauber and Brent Rosen—combined for 16 wins in singles play as freshmen last season. Lauber, playing No. 2 singles, won six of nine matches in conference play to earn honorable mention All-OAC honors. Rosen rang up a 9-8 overall mark, 6-3 in the OAC, playing No. 3 and 4 singles last season.

Rounding out the list of returning lettermen are seniors Kevin Beers and Mike Papadales. Beers went 2-3 in conference play at No. 3 and 4 singles. Papadales, injured last season, played in just two doubles matches.

“We have picked up three good players—in terms of the lineup,” D’Arcy said.

Freshmen Tyler Stephen, from Worthington (Worthington Kilbourne High School), and Jeremy Smith, from Springfield (Springfield Catholic Central High School); and transfer Marcus Van Dijk, from Stockholm, Sweden, should help propel Otterbein to a top-four finish in the OAC this season.

“They are all very good players, who will have an impact this season,” D’Arcy said.

Four members of the Otterbein men’s tennis team were named All-Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) the league office announced today.

The Cardinals landed two players on the first team, and one on the second.

Dan Dodson (first singles), a senior from Minford, and his first-doubles partner Ryen Valentine (second singles), a sophomore from Marion (Marion Harding High School), earned first team All-OAC honors.

Dodson tallied a 6-2 record in OAC singles play while Valentine cruised to a 7-0 singles mark over the course of the regular season. The pair teamed up for a 4-1 conference record in doubles.

Justin Bays (third singles/second doubles), a sophomore from Findlay (Wheelersburg High School), was named to the second team. Bays tallied OAC marks of  8-1 in singles and 6-2 in doubles during the regular season.

Brian Erwin (fifth singles/second doubles), a senior from Reynoldsburg, earned honorable mention honors.  Erwin wrapped up regular-season OAC play with records of  8-1 in singles and 6-2 in doubles.

Otterbein, under 12th-year head coach Dan Morris, finished third in the OAC with a 7-2 regular-season record. The Cardinals advanced to the semifinals of the OAC Tournament with a 5-0 win over John Carroll before losing 4-2 to Baldwin-Wallace last weekend in Berea.

Cards Prep to Defend OAC Title
(Written by Scott Rex 4/22/03)

After reeling off seven straight conference wins, Otterbein dropped its regular-season finale to Baldwin-Wallace, 4-1, Tuesday night in Berea.

Twelfth-year head coach Dan Morris had hoped to head into this weekend’s Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Championships on a better note.

“I felt better before (Tuesday night),” Morris said. “It was frustrating because it wasn’t an ideal situation. We didn’t rise up and play our best. That’s not the way you want to go into the tournament.”

Tuesday’s match was played indoors and in championship-match format, which is the first team to win four points. Otterbein’s lone point came from sophomore Justin Bays (Findlay/Wheelersburg) at third singles.

“We need to step back and look at what we need to tweak and improve on. I don’t know what’s in their heads right now, but we need to knock it out and be ready to play Friday morning,” Morris said.

Otterbein (8-7 overall, 7-2 OAC), the defending OAC champion, will open OAC Championship play, 10:30 a.m., Friday at tournament host Baldwin-Wallace College. The third-seeded Cardinals will meet sixth-seeded John Carroll (9-7 overall, 4-4 OAC).

Should Otterbein win, and the other seeds hold up, the Cardinals would meet second-seeded Baldwin-Wallace (18-3 overall, 7-1 OAC), 4:30 p.m., Friday. The championship match is slated for, 1 p.m., Saturday.

This season marks the second year the OAC Championships have been a team-tournament format.

Last season, Otterbein won the tournament as the fifth seed. It was the school’s first conference championship in men’s tennis since 1943.

Valentine Named OAC Player of the Week
(Written 4/21/03)

Ryen Valentine, a sophomore from Marion (Marion Harding High School), was selected Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) “player of the week” in men’s tennis.

Valentine went 8-0 on the week, helping lead his team to conference wins over John Carroll, Wilmington, Mount Union and Capital. Otterbein, defending OAC champion, has won seven straight matches.

Valentine won all four of his matches at second singles, and teamed up with Dan Dodson, a senior from Minford, to win three matches at first doubles. He paired with David Arnette, a senior from Grove City (Westland High School), to win another match at second doubles.

Cards Win 5 Straight in OAC Play
(Written by Scott Rex 4/16/03)

Otterbein won its fifth straight Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) match Tuesday, downing Wilmington 6-1.

The Cardinals’ 6-6 overall record is deceiving, as Otterbein now boasts a 5-1 record in OAC play.

The Cardinals opened conference play with a 4-3 loss at Ohio Northern April 1. Since then, they have won three matches by shutout and two by scores of 6-1.

“We’re doing what needs to be done right now,” said 12th-year head coach Dan Morris. “Since the loss to Ohio Northern, we’ve really stepped it up and we’re playing with a lot of confidence.

Morris knows the toughest part of the schedule may lie ahead. The Cardinals still must face Mount Union, Capital and Baldwin-Wallace, all of whom are in the top half of the OAC standings. It shapes up as the toughest stretch of matches since the beginning of the season.

“Spring Break was a nice wake-up call for us,” Morris said of his team’s early-season struggles. “I think our guys learned a lot about themselves.

“Right now we think we can beat just about anybody. We go in with the idea of splitting the doubles matches and splitting the singles matches, and then we’ve got our four points.”

The Cardinals open their stretch run Thursday with a non-conference match at Cedarville. Mount Union visits Westerville Friday, while the Cardinals travel across town to Capital Saturday. The B-W match, postponed earlier this season, must be made up before the OAC Championships, which are slated for April 25-26.

Cards Enter Heart of Schedule
(Written by Scott Rex 4/8/03)

Defending Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) champion Otterbein enters the heart of its conference schedule Thursday afternoon, traveling to Heidelberg for a 3:30 p.m. match. And while the Cardinals have won just two of their first eight outings, 12th-year head coach Dan Morris feels good about where his team stands entering the stretch run.

“One thing I’ve always done is try to schedule a lot of difficult teams,” Morris said. “Our non-conference schedule has always provided a lot of great competition. It’s kind of a double-edged sword, because our guys can either get disgruntled, or they can say that it’s going to get easier when we get back (to the OAC schedule).”

Thursday’s trip to Heidelberg starts a stretch of seven matches in 10 days for the Cardinals. Plus, Otterbein still must schedule a home match with Mount Union that was postponed earlier this season.

“I’d rather have us playing every other day,” Morris said. “It’s kind of like baseball because it’s a battle of endurance. But, I like that we have a whole week off before the OAC Championships.”

Otterbein split its first two conference matches, falling to Ohio Northern, 4-3, and defeating Marietta, 6-1. The Cardinals split the six singles matches with the Polar Bears, but ONU won 2 of 3 doubles matches to earn the fourth point. Against Marietta, Otterbein won 5 of 6 singles matches; eight of those 10 victorious games were decided by scores of 6-0 or 6-1.

“I think we’re right where we need to be,” Morris said. “We just have to start playing on a consistent level, we need to reduce our unforced errors and we need to concentrate on all the small, little things. I think the league is wide open and we have a good chance to repeat.”

Otterbein Wins OAC Men’s Tennis Championship
(Written by Ed Syguda 5/4/02)

Otterbein broke a long cold streak, winning its first Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) championship in men’s tennis since 1943.

Fifth-seeded Otterbein, under 11th-year head coach Dan Morris, defeated second-seeded Ohio Northern, 4-3, today in the championship match held at Capital University. Otterbein advanced into the title match with wins over fourth-seeded Capital, 4-0, and top-seeded Mount Union, 4-1, Friday at Capital.

Justin Bays, a freshman from Findlay (Wheelersburg High School), put the Cardinals over the top, breaking a 3-3 tie to win third singles 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 in the championship match.

David Taylor, a sophomore from New Albany (Worthington Christian High School), and Brian Erwin, a senior from Reynoldsburg (Reynoldsburg High School), took second and fifth singles, respectively.

The Cardinals earned the first point of the championship by winning two of three doubles matches. Dan Dodson, a junior from Minford (Mindford High School), teamed up with Taylor to win first doubles. Erwin and Bays took second doubles.

Ohio Northern scored three points with wins in first, fourth and sixth singles. Dodson, David Arnette, a senior from Grove City (Westland High School), and Brian Sprang, a junior from Winesburg (Hiland High School), played first, fourth and sixth singles, respectively.

Championship Match (Otterbein 4, Ohio Northern 3)

Singles

1. Brian Meilton (ONU) d. Daniel Dodson (OC), 6-4, 6-2.
2. David Taylor (OC) d. Chris Compton (ONU), 6-1, 6-2.
3. Justin Bays (OC) d. Michael Romanello (ONU), 6-4, 2-6, 6-3.
4. Josh Hafer (ONU) d. David Arnette (OC), 6-4, 7-5.
5. Brian Erwin (OC) d. Michael Hylton (ONU) 6-1, 6-3.
6. Geoff Baron (ONU) d. Brian Sprang (OC), 6-1, 6-0.

1. Dodson/Taylor (OC) d. Meilton/Romanello (ONU), 8-4.
2. Bays/Erwin (OC) d. Compton/Baron (ONU), 8-3.
3. Hafer/Hylton (ONU) d. Arnette/Sprang (OC), 8-4.