|
|
|
|
|
 |
Anders Earns ESPN The Magazine Academic Honors Written May 22, 2009 by Ed Syguda WESTERVILLE, OHIO—Megan Anders was named to 2009 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV Women’s At-Large first team as selected by the College Sports Information Director’s of America (CoSIDA). Anders, a junior nursing major from Pickerington (Pickerington Central High School), is now eligible for Academic All-America consideration. She was selected to the second team as a sophomore in 2008. Anders has made the Otterbein Dean’s List all eight terms. She compiled an 11-5 record in singles, primarily at No. 4, and a 15-4 mark in doubles, mostly at No. 3, this season. Women’s at-large teams are made up of student-athletes participating in the
following sports: bowling, crew, fencing, field
hockey, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, rifle, skiing, swimming, tennis,
and water polo. Rings & Thinnes Earn All-OAC Honors Rings, a junior from Pickerington (Pickerington Central High School), was named to the first team while Thinnes, a junior from Loveland (Cincinnati Hills Christian), earned second team honors. The pair teamed up for a 7-2 record at No. 1 doubles in conference play.
Rings, a three-time All-OAC selection, lost just one conference match this season on her way to an 8-1 record at first singles. Overall, the junior compiled a 17-4 mark in singles and 17-5 in doubles play. “Across the board, this year’s No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles players have been the strongest since I have been coaching,” said head coach Pat Anderson, who just concluded her 13th season at the helm of the Otterbein program. “Brittany has spent three years competing against our conference's top players and has done an outstanding job for the Lady Cardinals.” Rings earned first team All-OAC honors in 2008 and second team honors as a freshman in 2007. Thinnes, a two-time All-OAC pick, compiled a 6-2 OAC record at No. 2 singles this season. She finished with a 15-5 overall record in singles and 17-5 in doubles play. “Cheryl knows the game of doubles well and is extremely aggressive,” Anderson said. “She comes across tough competition on the No. 2 singles court and No. 1 doubles and does an excellent job of handling it.” Thinnes earned honorable mention All-OAC honors in 2008.Rings Swinging Hot Racket, Looking to Help Cards Capture
OAC Title WESTERVILLE, OHIO – In the past five weeks, not much has gone wrong on the tennis court for Otterbein junior Brittany Rings. Since March 19th, Rings has gone 12-2 at #1 singles and has teamed with Cheryl Thinnes to go 11-3 at #1 doubles. The reigning conference player of the week, she has won seven singles matches in a row and is currently gearing up for the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Tournament after compiling an 8-1 regular season record within the league. Counting both matches during fall season, Rings currently holds a 16-4 overall record in both singles and doubles competition. “I’ve been working hard and came into this season with a different mindset than I have in the past two years,” said Rings. “Even if I get down in a match, I don’t let the score affect me. I just go out to play hard and to win.” After beginning her tennis career in the seventh grade, Rings played her way to a spot on the All-Ohio second team during her senior year of high school. In addition, she was named to the All-Conference team after helping lead her squad to the league tournament championship. The close proximity between Otterbein and her hometown of Pickerington, combined with the school’s education program, drove Rings to become a Cardinal in the fall of 2006. Since arriving, she has compiled a career singles record of 44-17 and has been named first-team All-OAC in each of her first two years. “Brittany made an impact on the team the day she stepped on the court as a freshman,” said head coach Pat Anderson. “She excels both on the court and in the classroom.” Rings finished this spring season tied with Marietta’s Amanda Carraher (also 8-1 in OAC play) for the best singles record in conference matches. While Rings’ 7-2 doubles record is more impressive than Carraher’s 5-3 mark in doubles action, Carraher did defeat Rings by close scores of 7-6 (7-4) and 6-4 when the two met during Otterbein’s 8-1 victory over the Pioneers in Westerville on March 31st. Both players will be strong candidates for the OAC’s Player-of-the-Year Award. However, the Pickerington native is much more focused on the bigger picture at the moment than potential accolades at season’s end. “It would be a great honor,” said Rings of possibly being named the conference’s top player….“but right now that’s not the biggest weight in my head. I just want our team to make it as far as we can in the OAC Tournament and hopefully win it. That’s what I’m focused on right now and any perks that go along with that would be great.” It is that mindset that has allowed Rings to evolve as a key leader amongst her group of peers. “Her strongest asset is being a team player, and expecting no less from her teammates, explained Anderson.” The past two seasons, the team has defeated Wilmington in
the first round of the conference tournament before eventually falling in round
two. This year, the squad is again matched up against Wilmington in the opening
round. “Cheryl is just a great partner,” Rings said. “We’ve been together since freshman year and have been able to bond throughout the years. We’ve gotten closer every season and understand what we need to do in order to make one another better. We’re also really good friends off the court, so it really is just beneficial to know your partner so well.” The team will play host to the Quakers today in first round
action, with the winner moving on to compete in the semi-finals on Friday at the
Linder Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio. Cards Roll into OAC Championships “This was a very long week for the Lady Cardinals,” said Otterbein head
coach Pat Anderson. “Due to numerous rain reschedules, we ended up playing four
in a row. It's not just the physical stamina that is tested, but all the class
work that has to be made up. The girls really stepped up to the plate and
finished the week strong, something that I think will pay off going into the OAC
Championships.” The Cardinals earned the third seed in the tournament and will host sixth-seeded Wilmington, 3:30 p.m., Tuesday in the quarterfinals. The winner of this match advances to the semifinals and will play the winner of the match between second-seeded Baldwin-Wallace and seventh-seeded Heidelberg this Friday at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason. Semifinal matches are scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m. Otterbein has a shot at advancing to the final and pulling off an upset win for the championship, according to Anderson. “Our scores against Ohio Northern and Baldwin-Wallace were close, and I think the Lady Cards are hungry to win,” Anderson said. “It won't be easy but it can be done." Otterbein’s lone conference losses this season came to top-seeded Ohio Northern and Baldwin-Wallace. The Cards lost 6-3 to the Polar Bears and 5-4 to the Yellow Jackets. The OAC championship game is scheduled for Saturday, 2 p.m., at Lindner.Rings Earns Conference Player of the Week Honors Written April 27, 2009 by Adam Prescott WESTERVILLE, OHIO—Junior Brittany Rings (Pickerington/Central) has been named the the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) player of the week, announced the conference office Monday morning. This past week, Rings played her way to an 8-0 overall record, winning all four matches at #1 singles as well as winning all #1 doubles matches with teammate Cheryl Thinnes. The junior currently holds a 16-4 overall record this spring, including an 8-1 record in league play. She has won seven singles matches in a row. The Cardinals, the third seed, will begin OAC Tournament play this Tuesday when they host sixth seeded Wilmington. OAC Names Thinnes Player of the Week Thinnes won all six of her matches last week to remain unbeaten in conference play as Otterbein went 2-1 in the OAC with wins over Wilmington and Marietta, and a loss to Baldwin-Wallace. The junior picked up three wins at No. 2 singles and teamed up with Brittany Rings, a junior from Pickerington (Central), for three more wins at No. 1 doubles. Thinnes holds Otterbein’s best record through 14 matches this season, going 11-3 in both singles and doubles play. Otterbein, 9-5 overall and 2-1 in the OAC, plays its next three matches on the road, beginning with Mount Union, 3:30 p.m., Wednesday. Cards to Host B-W Saturday The Cardinals, 9-4 overall, head into the match off back-to-back conference wins over Wilmington, 7-2, Monday at Wilmington and Marietta, 8-1, Tuesday at home. The Yellow Jackets, 6-9 overall, own a 3-0 OAC record with wins over Muskingum, 9-0, Mount Union, 6-3, and Heidelberg, 9-0. “The Lady Cards are taking the approach that every team in our conference is a contender and practicing that way,” said head coach Pat Anderson. “We are 2-0 right now, but those matches are over. We are practicing hard to get ready for Baldwin-Wallace.” No. 2 singles Cheryl Thinnes, a junior, won all four of her matches played against Wilmington and Marietta. She lost just one game in singles and teamed up with No. 1 singles Brittany Rings, a junior, for a pair of wins at No. 1 doubles. Rings posted a 1-1 record in singles play. “Florida really brought out the best in a lot of our players,” Anderson said. “Our doubles teams are playing aggressive and working well together. Singles players are playing not just solid physical tennis, but smart tennis as well. “We'll play one at a time and hope we continue to win and get better in the process,” Anderson added. Following Baldwin-Wallace, the Cardinals play their next three OAC matches on the road, beginning with Heidelberg, 3:30 p.m., Monday.Cards Head into OAC Play with Momentum “This was a good week for the Lady Cards,” said Otterbein head coach Pat Anderson. “They played some great tennis. Being able to play outside every day with the wind and sun will really help us when we return to play the OAC.” The Cardinals, playing in Orlando, Fla., won its first four matches with Bethel, 5-4, Western New England, 7-2, Southeastern, 8-1, and Webber International, 9-0, before finishing with a 9-0 loss at Hillsborough Community College on Tuesday. “We scheduled Hillsborough last because they are a nationally-ranked team with great depth and talent all the way down,” Anderson said. “Looking at the scores, you would think it wasn’t much of a match, but we had several very long matches against them. It was a good match to end break on because it brought out everyone’s best game.” The Cardinals, 7-4 overall, are scheduled to open the OAC with back-to-back matches, beginning with Wilmington, 3:30 p.m., Monday in Wilmington, and Marietta, 3:30 p.m., Tuesday at home.Cards Open Spring Break With Three-Match Sweep Written March 23, 2009 by Ed Syguda ORLANDO, FLORIDA—Otterbein opened its spring trip with a three-match sweep. The Cardinals improved to 6-3 overall with wins over Bethel (MN), 5-4, Western New England, 7-2, and Southeastern, 8-1, last week. Otterbein is scheduled to close out its five-match Florida schedule with Webber International today (Monday) and Hillsborough on Tuesday. Juniors Brittany Rings and Cheryl Thinnes combined for a perfect 6-0 record at No. 1 and No. 2 singles, respectively, over the three matches. The pair teamed up for a 2-1 record at No. 1 doubles. So far this season, each is 7-2 in singles play and 8-1 in doubles. Junior Megan Anders won all five of her matches, going 2-0 at fourth singles, and 3-0 with sophomore Kylie Hammons at third doubles. Hammons also went 5-0 on the week, winning both of her matches at sixth singles. Otterbein is scheduled to open Ohio Athletic Conference play with back-to-back matches, beginning at Wilmington March 30, followed by Marietta at home March 31. Cards Open up 2008-09 Season with 8-1 Victory WESTERVILLE, OHIO – Otterbein opened up the 2008-09 campaign with an 8-1 victory over The University of Northwestern (Ohio) on Sunday in Lima. The Cardinals were victorious in five of six singles matches in addition to winning all three doubles matchups. Junior Brittany Rings won No. 1 singles 6-0, 6-3 while junior Cheryl Thinnes was victorious in No. 2 singles by scores of 6-1, 6-1. The duo also paired to win No. 1 doubles by a score of 8-4. The Cardinals next travel to play Tiffin on Tuesday with the match slated to begin at 3:30 p.m. Anders Lands on ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District
Team WESTERVILLE, OHIO—Otterbein tennis player Megan Anders was named to the 2008 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV Women’s At-Large second team as selected by the College Sports Information Director’s of America (CoSIDA).
Anders, a sophomore from Pickerington (Pickerington Central High School), is majoring in nursing and has made the Otterbein Dean’s List all five quarters. The sophomore compiled a 7-2 mark at No. 2 doubles in Ohio Athletic Conference play this season. Anders finished with a 12-8 overall record in doubles play. Academic All-District IV team members are selected through voting by CoSIDA, a 2,000-member organization consisting of sports public relations professionals for colleges and universities in the United States and Canada. District IV encompasses the states of Alabama, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee. To be eligible, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.20 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standing at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director.
Three Earn All-OAC Honors
No. 1 singles player Brittany Rings, a sophomore from Pickerington (Central High School), was named to the first team; No. 2 singles player Cheryl Thinnes, a sophomore from Loveland (Cincinnati Hills Christian), earned second team honors; and No. 4 singles player Lianne Simeone, a senior from Shelby, earned honorable mention honors. The trio turned in a combined 22-5 OAC record in singles play. Rings, who is a two-time all-conference selection, finished with a 6-3 record in singles, and teamed up with Thinnes to go 8-1 at No. 1 doubles in conference play. She was a second team pick as a freshman in 2007. Overall, Rings played to a 12-8 singles record and 16-5 doubles record over the fall and spring seasons.
“Brittany came across some tough competition and had no problem holding her own,” said Otterbein head coach Pat Anderson. “Even when down a set, she can stay focused and come back for the win. Part of Britt's success is that she doesn't like to lose.” Thinnes tallied 8-1 OAC marks in both singles and doubles play this season. Overall, Thinnes finished with a 13-6 record in singles and 16-5 in doubles. “Cheryl’s record speaks for itself,” Anderson said. “She played hard against a lot of tough competition, and came up with some very impressive wins. Her game really matured from last year. Cheryl's success comes from just enjoying the competition.”
Simeone turned in an 8-1 mark in OAC singles competition. Overall, she played to a 15-6 mark over the fall and spring seasons. “Lianne played her best tennis her senior year,” Anderson said. “She did a good job of exploiting her opponents’ weaknesses.” Otterbein finished in a three-way tie with Ohio Northern and Mount Union for second place, each with a 7-2 OAC record, and earned the No. 2 seed in the OAC Tournament. The Cardinals advanced to the tournament semifinals.
Cards Fall to Ohio Northern in OAC Semifinals Otterbein picked up its two points with victories in No. 1 and No. 3 doubles. Brittany Rings, a sophomore from Pickerington (Pickerington Central High School), and Cheryl Thinnes, a sophomore from Loveland (Cincinnati Hills Christian), took No. 1 doubles with a score of 8-6. Megan Anders, a sophomore from Pickerington (Central), and Kylie Hammons, a freshman from Wauseon, won No. 3 doubles with a score of 9-8 (7-4). Rings and Thinnes were well on their way to winning at No. 1 and No. 2 singles before Ohio Northern reached five points to win the semifinal match. “Brittany Rings had set point on her racquet, while Cheryl Thinnes breezed through her first set and was on serve in her second set before the match was called,” said Otterbein head coach Pat Anderson. “Ohio Northern did a good job coming back from being down 2-1 in doubles,” Anderson said. “We had our chances, but ONU stepped it up to close it out. Our doubles teams played solid, but we seemed a step behind on a couple of singles courts.” The loss ends the Cards season with a record of 13-8.
Thinnes Earns OAC Player of the Week Honors Thinnes, who plays No. 2 singles and No. 1 doubles, won all six of her matches last week as the Cardinals posted wins over John Carroll, 6-3, Muskingum, 9-0, and Heidelberg, 9-0. The sophomore has won 12 straight matches, six singles and six doubles, dating back to April 5, an 8-1 win over Capital. The Cardinals finished regular-season play in a three-way tie with Mount Union and Ohio Northern for second place in the OAC, each 7-2 in league play. Otterbein, seeded second, is scheduled to open the OAC Tournament Tuesday at home, facing seventh-seeded Wilmington, beginning at 3:30 p.m.
Cards Enter OAC Tournament on a Roll Otterbein, seeded second, hosts seventh-seeded Wilmington, 3:30 p.m., Tuesday in the quarterfinals of the OAC Tournament. The winner advances to the final four, which is scheduled to be played Friday and Saturday at the Lindner Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio. The tournament winner receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament. “We felt from the start that the conference championship was up for grabs,” said Otterbein head coach Pat Anderson. The Cardinals finished the regular season in a three-way tie with Mount Union and Ohio Northern for second place, each 7-2 in the OAC. Baldwin-Wallace won the regular-season title with a perfect 9-0 record. Otterbein closed out the final week with wins over John Carroll, 6-3, Muskingum, 9-0, and Heidelberg, 9-0. Cheryl Thinnes, a sophomore from Loveland (Cincinnati Hills Christian High School), won all six of her matches at No. 2 singles and No. 1 doubles. “Our constant improvement puts us in a good position to compete for the championship title,” Anderson said. “Our doubles teams are finally coming together and a couple of our singles players that needed to step up are doing just that. We look forward to the tournament.”
Cards Hand ONU First OAC Loss of the Season With the win, Otterbein improved to 4-2 in the OAC, 9-7 overall. The Cardinals were scheduled to play at John Carroll today. “There's no doubt that a win was needed against Ohio Northern to put the fire back in this team,” said Otterbein head coach Pat Anderson. “We had players step up on a lot of courts in this match; even our losses were well played.” No. 1 singles Brittany Rings, a sophomore from Pickerington (Central High School), and No. 2 singles Cheryl Thinnes, a sophomore from Loveland (Cincinnati Hills Christian), each won their singles matches and teamed up to win at No. 1 doubles. “We still have three OAC matches left and John Carroll is playing pretty tough right now so we have to turn around and be ready for them,” Anderson said. The Cardinals continue conference play Tuesday, hosting Muskingum at 3:30 p.m. Otterbein will honor its three seniors—Shannon Carr, from Westerville (North), Rachel Kerr, from Wheeling, W.V., (Wheeling Park), and Lianne Simeone, from Shelby—on Senior Day.
Cards Even OAC Record After Win Over Capital The Cardinals, 7-7 overall, bounced back from conference losses to Mount Union, 5-4, last Tuesday on the road, and Baldwin-Wallace, 6-3, Thursday at home. “When you lose matches to two of the top teams in the conference,” said head coach Pat Anderson, “you better hope two things happen. First that the matches were close and, second, that you learned from them. Thankfully, we did both.” The Cardinals won all three doubles matches as well as second through sixth singles in the win over Capital. “I thought the girls did a good job of putting their losses behind them and played well against Capital,” Anderson said. “We have to use our win against Capital as a start and continue to build from that match.” First singles player Brittany Rings, a sophomore from Pickerington (Central High School), and second singles Cheryl Thinnes, a sophomore from Loveland (Cincinnati Hills Christian), each went 2-1 in singles and teamed up for a 2-1 mark at first doubles over the three conference matches last week. Otterbein resumes OAC play Thursday, traveling to Marietta for 3:30 p.m. match.Cards Resume OAC Play After Tough Florida Schedule Written March 30, 2008 by Zach Manoogian WESTERVILLE, OHIO—Otterbein wrapped up a series of five matches in Florida with a 5-4 win over Webber (ranked #24 NAIA) on Thursday. The victory gave the Cardinals their second victory on the trip, finishing with two victories and three losses against tough competition. Otterbein didn’t shy away from competition while south, facing four nationally-ranked teams. Head coach coach Pat Anderson noted the importance of playing good competition when evaluating the team. “When you play a tough schedule, you get a good idea of what your own team has,” Anderson said. Early matches saw Otterbein fall to Hillsborough, ranked third in the nation among junior colleges, 9-0, and Luther, ranked 29th in NCAA D-III, 6-3. The team then rebounded to beat Bethel, 7-2, before losing to West Virginia State, ranked 8 th in NCAA D-II Great Lakes Region, 5-4, a match that could have gone either way as the Cardinals lost two tiebreakers. Anderson feels the trip will help the Cardinals as the season progresses. “The Florida trip is a good opportunity to bond as a team and to play competition that pushes everyone’s game. You have to hope that all that good play gets brought back and used in the conference matches coming up,” Anderson stated. Otterbein (6-5,1-0) next faces Mt. Union in Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) play on Tuesday. The match, hosted by Mt. Union, will begin at 3:30 p.m. OAC Names Rings Player of the Week
Rings, a first team All-OAC performer as a freshman, went 1-1 at first singles and 1-1 at first doubles in non-conference matches played last week in Florida. She dropped both of her matches (6-1, 6-2 in singles and 8-1 in doubles) at Hillsborough College last Saturday in Tampa before rebounding with a pair of wins (4-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 in singles and 8-2 in doubles) against Luther College (IA) Sunday in Kissimmee. Rings has compiled a 5-3 record in both singles and doubles play this season. Otterbein, 4-4 overall and 1-1 in the OAC, wraps up its five-game Florida schedule at Webber International Wednesday in Babson Park. The Cards resume OAC play April 1, traveling to Mount Union.
Cards to Host Wilmington to Open OAC Play
“Usually, you can narrow the conference race down to two teams from the start,” said Otterbein head coach Pat Anderson about the 2008 season. “Not this year,” Anderson added. “It will be anyone’s to win.” “Ohio Wesleyan is in the process of rebuilding, but the win against Oberlin
was solid,” Anderson said. “We came into the singles down 2-1, losing two
hard-fought doubles matches so it was important that the singles’ players step
up. They put in a good performance, winning five out of the six courts.” Sophomores Brittany Rings, from Pickerington (Central High School), and
Cheryl Thinnes, from Loveland (Cincinnati Hills Christian), won first and second
singles, respectively, and teamed up for an 8-1 win at first doubles in the win
over Oberlin. With the return of seniors Rachel Kerr, from Wheeling, W.Va. (Wheeling Park),
and Shannon Carr, from Westerville (North), both honorable mention All-OAC
selections in 2007, and Lianne Simeone, from Shelby, Otterbein could prove a
contender for the OAC title this season.
2007-08 Season Preview “It’s like any sport, you have 7 1/2 months of off-season,” Anderson
said. “I always tell my players it’s what you do in the off-season that
counts. If all of our players play in tournaments and hit a lot of tennis over
the summer then, yes, we have a good shot of taking the conference this
season.” Seniors Rachel Kerr and Shannon Carr, both honorable mention All-OAC
selections in 2007, and Lianne Simeone headline the list of returning players. Kerr led the Cardinals with a perfect 8-0 record in conference matches at
fifth and sixth singles, and went 5-1 at third doubles and 1-0 at first doubles.
Overall, she tallied a 13-3 record in singles and 9-4 in doubles in 2007. Carr notched a 6-1 record at third and fourth singles and went 5-3 at second
doubles in OAC play. She compiled overall records of 9-3 in singles and 10-8 in
doubles play. Simeone recorded a 4-5 OAC record at second and third singles. Anderson replaced fall practices with a non-traditional playing season in
2006, which will be carried over into this fall. Three Earn All-OAC Honors Rings tallied a 7-2 record at first and second singles and a 7-2 mark at first doubles in OAC play. Overall, Rings compiled a 16-5 record in singles and 14-8 in doubles over the fall and spring seasons. “It's not easy coming in as a freshman and playing the No. 1 court in both singles and doubles,” said Otterbein head coach Pat Anderson. “Brittany did a great job. She has a lot of talent and will only get better over the next three years.” Kerr led the Cardinals with a perfect 8-0 record in conference matches at fifth and sixth singles, and went 5-1 at third doubles and 1-0 at first doubles. Overall, she tallied a 13-3 record in singles and 9-4 in doubles. “Rachel is someone you can always count on for a point,” Anderson said. “She has always displayed a lot of composure and maturity on the court. She plays to win.” Carr notched a 6-1 record at third and fourth singles and went 5-3 at second doubles in OAC play. Carr compiled overall records of 9-3 in singles and 10-8 in doubles play this season. “Shannon had a rough start with a knee dislocation in the fall, but she was serious about her rehab and it paid off on the court,” Anderson said.Cards Earn Third Seed in OAC Tournament The Cardinals, 12-8 overall and 7-3 in the OAC, finished conference play with
an 8-1 victory over Heidelberg last Saturday at home. The team has won six of
its last seven matches, including three straight. “Back in January,” said 11th-year head coach Pat Anderson, “we set a
goal to be seeded third or higher and we accomplished that. This team is used to
setting goals and making them. So I would have to say our next goal is to get to
the finals.” The winner of the Otterbein and Wilmington match will face the winner of the
match between second-seeded Ohio Northern and seventh-seeded Heidelberg in the
semifinals, 9 a.m., Friday at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason. The
championship final follows at 10 a.m. Saturday with the winner receiving an
automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament. Otterbein, bolstered by a strong freshman class in 2007, exhibited a sharp
turn-around from last season’s 4-5 OAC finish. “What has made this season so positive is that everyone has played a part
in where we are now,” Anderson said. Rachel Kerr, a junior from Wheeling, W. Va. (Wheeling Park High School), led
the Cardinals with a perfect 8-0 record in conference matches at fifth and sixth
singles. Shannon Carr, a junior from Westerville (North), notched a 6-1 conference
record at third and fourth singles and was followed by Brittany Rings, a
freshman from Pickerington (Central), 7-2 at first and second singles, and Jena
Smith, a freshman from Orrville, 6-2 at fourth and fifth singles. Rings
Earns OAC Player of the Week Honors She finishes regular-season play with
an overall record of 15-5 in singles matches and 13-7 in doubles competition. Cards
Win Three Straight in the OAC The Cardinals, 9-7 overall, improved to 4-1 in conference play with an 8-1 win over Marietta Wednesday in the Clements Recreation Center. Ohio Northern, 18-4 overall, moved to 6-0 in the league with a 7-2 victory over Heidelberg Wednesday in Ada. The Polar Bears have won eight straight matches. Otterbein head coach Pat Anderson, in her 11th season with the Cardinals, is taking the match with Ohio Northern in stride. “We don’t treat any match differently,” Anderson said. “If you only wait for the big matches to practice hard, you won’t be ready. Playing ONU is not any different for us than playing anyone else in our conference. “The team is working and playing hard,” Anderson continued. “That is
all we can do.” Otterbein, in addition to the win over Marietta, defeated Capital, 9-0, and
Mount Union, 5-4, since losing, 7-2, at Baldwin-Wallace March 31.
Baldwin-Wallace, also 6-0 in league play, shares first place with Ohio Northern. Rachel Kerr, a junior from Wheeling, W. Va. (Wheeling Park High School),
remained unbeaten in conference play with a 6-0, 6-0 win at fifth singles
against Marietta. The freshman team of Brittany Rings, from Pickerington
(Central), and Cheryl Thinnes, from Loveland (Cincinnati Hills Christian),
improved to 4-1 in OAC play with an 8-3 win at first doubles against the
Pioneers. Following Ohio Northern, Otterbein is scheduled to play three conference
matches next week, beginning with Muskingum, 3:30 p.m., Tuesday in New Concord. Cards
Play to a Split to Open OAC Play The Cardinals, 6-7 overall and 1-1 in the OAC, defeated defending OAC Tournament champion John Carroll, 8-1, at home last Wednesday and lost, 7-2, on the road at Baldwin-Wallace last Saturday. The Yellow Jackets, 13-2 overall and 3-0 in the OAC, enter the week as one of three teams unbeaten in conference play. “John Carroll was a question mark going into the match,” said 11th-year head coach Pat Anderson about the Blue Streak lineup, which included two of its top players from a year ago, but was missing three winning seniors due to graduation. “We played well on all of the courts, both singles and doubles. “Baldwin-Wallace was not a question mark,” Anderson continued. “We knew
they would be tough all the way down. I didn’t see a 7-2 loss, however, and
felt we didn’t give them our best tennis.” Rachel Kerr, a junior from Wheeling, W.V. (Wheeling Park High School), won
all four of her matches at fifth and sixth singles and third doubles last week.
She has won seven of her last eight matches in singles play. “What makes Rachel exceptional is she doesn't just wait for matches to play
tough. She practices tough,” Anderson said. “She always goes on the
court to win and that is a big plus for her and this team.” Cards
Host John Carroll to Open OAC Play Otterbein begins Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) play, hosting defending OAC
Tournament champion John Carroll, 3:30 p.m., Wednesday in Westerville. “John Carroll has a lot of new players, and we have a lot of new
players,” said Otterbein head coach Pat Anderson. “It should be interesting
to see how we line up.” The Cardinals come into the week off a 2-3 performance over their annual
spring trip to Florida, defeating Bethel (MN), 7-2, and Hamline (MN), 6-3, and
losing to Webber International (FL), 5-4, Calvin, 7-2, and Hillsborough (FL),
8-1. “We took on some tough competition in Florida and the players did a good
job against that competition,” Anderson said. “We were able to get a number
of players into singles matches, which will allow us to do a lot with our
singles lineup.” Brittany Rings, a freshman from Pickerington (Central High School), went 3-2
on the week split between first and second singles, and teamed up with Cheryl
Thinnes, a freshman from Loveland (Cincinnati Hills Christian), for a 3-2 record
at first doubles. Cards
Ride Momentum to Florida Otterbein heads into its annual spring trip to Florida with a little
momentum, picking up a pair of impressive nonconference victories to open its
traditional season. The Cardinals are scheduled to open their trip south at Webber International
March 17 in Babson Park, Fla. The Cardinals are also scheduled to play Bethel
(MN), Calvin (MI), Hillsborough (FL) and Hamline (MN) while in Orlando. "There is no sense in padding your schedule with walk-over matches,”
said 11th-year head coach Pat Anderson about Otterbein’s tough Florida
schedule. “Florida is a time to play tough, win or lose, and bring that
toughness back to Ohio to compete in our conference." Otterbein, 3-3 overall, played to a 2-1 mark in the month of February, which
included an 8-1 win over Wittenberg Feb. 16 and a 6-3 win over Ohio Wesleyan
Feb. 20, both played at home in the Clements Recreation Center. The Cardinals
had not beaten Wittenberg since the 2001 season. Ohio Wesleyan came into the
match ranked 18th in the Central Region by the Intercollegiate Tennis
Association. A trio of freshman players have posted a combined 12-2 record in singles
competition, which includes matches played last fall. Brittany Rings, a freshman from Pickerington (Central High School), leads the
team with a 5-1 singles record, which includes a 3-1 mark at first singles. Jena
Smith, a freshman from Orrville, and Cheryl Thinnes, a freshman from Loveland
(Cincinnati Hills Christian), follow at 4-1 and 3-0, respectively, in singles
competition. The second doubles team of Smith and Shannon Carr, a junior from Westerville
(North), own a perfect 3-0 mark. Rings and Thinnes sport a 2-1 mark at first doubles. “The Lady Cards are a good mix of young and old,” Anderson said. “The
returning players bring the work ethic and experience, and the freshmen bring
the talent and enthusiasm. “This group of student-athletes pushes each other to be better,” Anderson
continued. “They have fun and work hard, and that is a good mix.” Cards
Prep for Spring Season WESTERVILLE, OHIO--The Otterbein College women’s tennis team (1-2) ended
its fall season with a tough loss to an undefeated Ohio Dominican (4-0).
The start to the 2006-07 year, however, brings high hopes for the team. “The non-traditional season this fall gave us a chance to mix it up,”
said 11th-year head coach Pat Anderson. “With seven returning players and six new freshmen, it was
important to be able to see their match toughness. Except for two injuries right off, we learned a lot about the
players.” With a lot of young talent, the Lady Cards fared well early on this fall,
winning the inaugural Otterbein Doubles Classic against Wooster and Shawnee
State. The team plans to build upon
this momentum for the spring season. Cards Win Otterbein Doubles Classic Written Sept. 18, 2006 by Ed Syguda WESTERVILLE, OHIO—The Otterbein women’s tennis team kicked off the fall portion of its schedule with the inaugural Otterbein Doubles Classic held last Saturday in Westerville. Wooster and Shawnee State made up the three-team tournament, which was won by
the Cardinals. Otterbein, which features seven upperclassmen and seven freshmen
on its roster, racked up an 11-3 record over 14 doubles matches. Returnees Rachel Kerr, a junior from Wheeling, W.V. (Wheeling Park High
School), and Jacalyn Crecelius, a sophomore from Milan (Edison), teamed up and
won all three of their matches. The freshman team of Cheryl Thinnes, from
Loveland (Cincinnati Hills Christian), and Brittany Rings, from Pickerington
(Central), won both of their doubles matches as well. Freshmen Jena Smith, from
Orrville, and Sarah Jenney, from Galion, each playing with different partners,
turned in 2-0 performances. "It's nice to have seven
freshmen come in and right off challenge the returning players,” said
11th-year head coach Pat Anderson. “It makes for quality practices. “Our returning players come back
with more maturity and our freshmen come in with a lot of talent,” Anderson
added.
Cards Enter OAC Tournament as No. 5 Seed In the teams’ prior meeting
this season, the Purple Raiders topped Otterbein, 7-2 in Alliance.
But the match was closer than the score indicated because three of the
six singles matches had to be decided in three full sets. “You hope that when you get a
rematch with someone, that you walk away knowing that you played better than the
first time,” said head women’s tennis coach Pat Anderson. “In that sense,
you’ve succeeded as a player.” “I never look ahead, but we
have a good shot at Mount Union if our players can curve their unforced errors.
We just need to hold it together mentally.” Tournament co-host Ohio Northern
earned the number-one seed after winning its third-straight OAC regular-season
title with a 9-0 conference record. The
Polar Bears, who defeated John Carroll in last season’s tournament
championship, have won 23 consecutive conference matches.
Although the Cardinals’ lineup
has fluctuated throughout much of the season, Anderson said a few factors
influenced her decisions when setting this year’s tournament lineup. “It’s a combination of
records and game style with a whole lot of mental consideration thrown in,”
Anderson said. “I put people
where I think their performance will factor in the most.” Sophomore Kelly Fischer, from
Cincinnati (Indian Hill High School), will play at first singles while lone
senior Sheridan Carr, from Westerville (Westerville North High School), will
compete at second singles. Ashley Tackett, a junior from
Marion (Marion Harding High School), is penciled in at third singles, while
sophomores Lianne Simeone, from Shelby, Rachel Kerr, from Wheeling, W.Va.
(Wheeling Park High School), and Shannon Carr, from Westerville (Westerville
North High School), round out the singles lineup. Fischer and Shannon Carr will get
the nod at first doubles while Tackett is paired with Simeone at the number-two
spot. Rachel Kerr and Shannon Carr
will compete at third doubles. Otterbein and Mount Union hit the
courts at 10:30 a.m. Friday with the tournament championship scheduled for 1
p.m. on Saturday.
Kerr Named OAC Player of the Week
Rachel Kerr, a sophomore from Wheeling, W. Va. (Wheeling Park High School), was selected Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) women’s tennis athlete of the week, the OAC released today. Kerr went a perfect 6-0 between No. 4 singles, and No. 2 and 3 doubles last week. Otterbein earned victories over Marietta and Muskingum, while falling in a close match, 5-4, to Heidelberg on the road. Kerr finished 7-2 in conference play, including wins in her last five matches at No. 4 singles. The sophomore teamed with sophomore Shannon Carr, of Westerville (Westerville North), to go 4-0 in conference doubles action. Otterbein closed the regular season 6-11, fifth in the OAC at 4-5. Otterbein begins OAC Tournament play Friday and Saturday at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, hosted by Ohio Northern.Cards Tally 6-3 Win Over Cross-town Rival Written by Kyle Durban 04/14/06 The Otterbein
women’s tennis team picked up an Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) victory
Thursday, knocking off Capital University, 6-3, in Westerville. Relying heavily on
singles play, the Cardinals took five of six matches from the Crusaders, but
dropped two doubles matches. Shannon
Carr, a sophomore from Westerville (Westerville North High School), and Rachel
Kerr, a sophomore from Wheeling, W.Va. (Wheeling Park High School), were winners
at third doubles. “It’s always big
to beat Capital,” said head women’s tennis coach Pat Anderson. “They’re
always tough and rise to the occasion, but we controlled the courts that we
needed to control for the win.” With the victory, the
Cardinals improve to 4-9 overall and 2-4 in the OAC. Capital slips to 3-10 overall and 1-6 in conference play. Otterbein has three
OAC matches left on the schedule, including an April 17 matchup against Marietta
in Westerville. “Marietta’s one of
those teams that doesn’t really jump out at you on paper, but they do it on
the court,” Anderson said. “We cannot take them lightly.”
Marietta, coming off a
win over Heidelberg, has won three straight OAC matches. The Pioneer women currently sit seventh in the OAC standings,
one spot ahead of Otterbein. Anderson said the goal
is to win the remaining conference matches, thus setting up a first-round OAC
Tournament match against Mount Union. “That’s what we’re looking at right now,” Anderson said. “The OAC Tournament is our only chance to go back and
compete against conference teams that beat us earlier in the season.
It would be kind of nice to meet up with some of those teams again.”
Cards
Topple Wilmington in OAC Opener The
Otterbein women's tennis team was nearly perfect in their Ohio Athletic
Conference (OAC) opener, defeating Wilmington 8-1 in Westerville Tuesday.
Cards
Open Spring Season at 1-1 Despite dropping their spring season opener to Ohio Wesleyan, the Otterbein
women’s tennis team bounced back to defeat Oberlin College on Feb. 25 in
Westerville. The Cardinals (1-1) fell to Ohio Wesleyan by a score of 8-1 on Feb. 13 before
defeating Oberlin, 5-4. Rachel Kerr, a sophomore from Wheeling W.Va. (Wheeling Park High School),
earned the lone victory for Otterbein against Ohio Wesleyan, winning at No. 5
singles. “For the most part, we competed well against Wesleyan,” said tenth-year
head coach Pat Anderson. “We saw
good things and played better than the score indicated.” In the win over Oberlin, the Cardinals swept all three doubles matches, and
Ashley Tackett, a junior from Marion (Harding High School), and Shannon Carr, a
sophomore from Westerville (Westerville North High School), recorded wins in
singles competition. “That win was very important,” Anderson said.
“Oberlin’s a good team. We
could have taken advantage and closed things out a little more, but overall, we
did a good job.” Play resumes in Florida when the Cardinals travel to Orlando for six matches
on March 16-24. Young Cards Bring Strong Work Ethic
into 2006 Season The Otterbein women’s tennis team returns six letterwinners to a squad that
finished 10-11 overall and 5-4 in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) last
season. Along with the six returnees are four freshmen, all of whom will push for
court time. “Every sophomore we have, played last season,” said tenth-year head coach
Pat Anderson. “Simply put,
we’re starting a new team – a team without a lot of experience under its
belt.” “But at the same time, our returning players and incoming freshmen come in
with great work ethic. That can make up for lack of experience.” The Cardinals return many of last season’s starters, including sophomore
Kelly Fischer, who played 10 matches at No. 1 singles as a freshman. “Kelly will be at first singles again this season,” Anderson said.
“She’s improved leaps and bounds mentally and physically.” Lone senior Sheridan Carr is penciled in as the team’s starter at No. 2
singles, while junior Ashley Tackett and sophomores Lianne Simeone, Rachel Kerr
and Shannon Carr round out the singles line-up. “Rachel is probably our best mental player,” Anderson said.
“She doesn’t lose, you have to beat her. Her mental game is always
there.” Kerr recorded an 11-5 overall record last season, including a 6-1 mark in OAC
action. At No. 1 doubles will be Fischer and Sheridan Carr, while Tackett and
freshman Bianca Speranza look to start at the No. 2 spot. Cards
Build Momentum Ahead of OAC's Otterbein heads into the final weekend of regular-season play coming off a pair of confidence boosters, Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) wins over Capital and Heidelberg. The Cardinals won at cross-town rival Capital, 7-2, last Saturday, and shut out Heidelberg, 9-0, Wednesday at home. “I think in the last couple of weeks,” said ninth-year head coach Pat Anderson, “the team has finally started to come together. Our win against capital was the turning point—beating our big rival Capital really put some confidence into our step. It probably was one of the best mental games our girls have played to date because they wanted to win so badly.” Rachel Kerr, a freshman from Wheeling, W.Va. (Wheeling Park High School), holds the best singles mark
on the team, 9-5 overall, including 5-1 in conference matches at No. 6 singles.
Staci Hilborn, a senior from Pickerington, 8-10 overall in singles play, holds a
4-4 conference mark at No. 1 and No. 2 singles. In doubles, Hilborn and Rachel
Omicinski, a freshman from Canton (Perry High School), have played to a 5-2 OAC
record at No. 1 doubles. The Cardinals host a tri-match this
Saturday to conclude regular-season play. Otterbein is scheduled to play Shawnee
State at 11 a.m. followed by Muskingum at 1 p.m. Omicinski
Named OAC Player of Week Omicinski, a freshman from Canton (Perry High School), compiled a 3-0 record at No. 2 and No. 3 singles, and a 2-1 mark at No. 1 doubles in matches played last week in Orlando, Fla. The Cardinals recently completed a schedule of six matches played in Orlando, compiling a 4-2 record. Otterbein begins OAC play Tuesday at Wilmington.Cards
Win 4 of 6 in Florida The Otterbein women’s tennis team won four of six matches played over spring break in Orlando, Fla. to improve to 5-4 overall. The Cardinals, riding a three-match winning streak, open Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) play at Wilmington, 4 p.m., Tuesday. Ninth-year head coach Pat Anderson came away from the spring trip impressed with the play of her freshman class. “Our inexperienced players are really stepping up to the plate,” Anderson said. Rachel Omicinski, a freshman from Canton (Perry High School), tallied a 4-1 record in singles play. Freshmen Lianne Simeone, from Shelby (Shelby Senior High School), and Rachel Kerr, from Wheeling, W. Va. (Wheeling Park High School), each went 2-2 in singles. The trio combined for a 4-5 record in doubles play. “Although
many of our players lack college match experience,” Anderson said, “they are
smart and work hard. We look forward to conference play.” Cards
Return 5 Letterwinners in '05 Otterbein, under ninth-year head coach Pat Anderson, returns five letterwinners from last season’s 13-6 squad, which played to an 8-1 record in Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) regular-season competition. A trio of seniors—Staci Hilborn, Jenny Haley, and Shawna Green—should provide the backbone and strength of the 2005 squad, which lost to graduation No. 1 and No. 2 singles players Erin Moriarty and Kelly Shields. The pair combined for a 24-9 record in singles play and 12-5 at first doubles in 2004. “I expect them to be able to instill motivation and the desire to win into the newcomers,” Anderson said about her senior tri-captains. Three-time All-OAC performer Hilborn heads the list of returning talent. She tallied a 12-6 overall record in singles, 8-0 in OAC play, on her way to first team All-OAC honors at No. 3 singles last season. The senior tri-captain enters 2005 with a perfect 24-0 singles record in regular-season conference competition. Haley, a 2002 honorable mention All-OAC performer, and Green, a 2004 honorable mention All-OAC pick, combined for a 17-11 record in singles play last season. Haley went 6-3 in the OAC primarily at No. 5 singles while Green recorded a 5-1 conference mark at No. 6 singles last season. Sheridan Carr, a junior, and Sasha Downey, a sophomore, round out the list of returning letterwinners. The 2005 squad features seven newcomers of whom five are freshmen. “We have a very young team, a lot of inexperience,” Anderson said. “But
that’s not all bad. We’ll be able to work with it. We have some pretty good
freshmen. They just don’t have the match experience that they need right
now.” Moriarty
Named Academic All-America Senior tennis player Erin Moriarty was named to the Academic All-America At-Large first team as selected by the College Sports Information Director’s of America (CoSIDA). A two-time Academic All-America, Moriarty was selected to the third team as a junior in 2003. Moriarty, from Pickerington, graduated from Otterbein with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics in June. She made the Otterbein Dean’s List all 12 quarters. A three-time first team All-Ohio Athletic
Conference (OAC) selection, Moriarty helped lead Otterbein to three
regular-season OAC titles and to two post-season OAC Tournament championships.
She compiled career records of 48-28 in singles and 56-27 in doubles, playing
primarily at first singles and first doubles. The
Academic All-America Teams program honors 816 male and female student-athletes
annually who have succeeded at the highest level on the playing field and in the
classroom. Individuals are selected through voting by CoSIDA, a 2,000-member
organization consisting of sports public relations professionals for colleges
and universities in the United States and Canada. Shields
Earns Academic All-District Honors Students-athletes selected to the first team were eligible for Academic All-America consideration. Shields, from Bucyrus, graduated from Otterbein with a bachelor’s degree in business administration in June. She made the Otterbein Dean’s List 11 of 12 quarters. A three-time first team All-Ohio Athletic
Conference (OAC) selection, Shields helped lead Otterbein to three
regular-season OAC titles and to two post-season OAC Tournament championships.
She compiled career records of 55-25 in singles and 59-28 in doubles, playing
primarily at second singles and first doubles. Academic
All-District IV team members are selected through voting by CoSIDA, a
2,000-member organization consisting of sports public relations professionals
for colleges and universities in the United States and Canada. District IV
encompasses the states of Alabama, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee. Call
Her Automatic Call her automatic. As a freshman in 2002, Hilborn won all 12 of her singles matches in OAC play, including three in the OAC Tournament. Last season, she went 10-0—three of those wins coming in the conference tournament, which Otterbein won. This season, more of the same. The Pickerington native capped off another perfect
season, running her conference record to 8-0 with a 6-0,
2-6, 6-2 win at third singles against Capital last Saturday in Bexley. That win
turned out to be the winning point as Otterbein edged its cross-town rival, 5-4,
to capture a share of its third straight OAC regular-season title. Hilborn really didn’t start paying attention to the streak
until the end of her sophomore season. “I didn’t really notice it until my coach said something to me about it,” Hilborn said. “We have a banquet every year and she just mentioned it. And I said, ‘Oh, yeah, I guess.’” Although Hilborn is well aware of her streak now, it doesn’t
consume her. She uses it for motivation. “This year, I had a really long three-set match in my very first conference match against Ohio Northern,” Hilborn said. “I was down and it was kind of a way to motivate myself. I was thinking, ‘I kind of like this undefeated streak I have.’ “It was, again, motivation to go ahead and push to beat that girl,” Hilborn said. Otterbein
head coach Pat Anderson, too, plays down the streak. Hilborn
Named OAC Player of the Week Staci Hilborn, a junior from Pickerington, was named Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) player of the week in women’s tennis, the league office released today. Hilborn compiled a 7-1 record, helping lead her team to a share of the regular-season OAC title with wins over Baldwin-Wallace, Wilmington, John Carroll and Capital. She won all four matches at first singles, extending her career OAC singles record to 31-0. The Cardinals, 12-5 overall and 8-1 in the OAC, are scheduled to play at Wittenberg, 3:30 p.m., Tuesday. The Cardinals open OAC Tournament play against either Heidelberg or Marietta, 1 p.m., Friday at host school Baldwin-Wallace. Otterbein is defending champion.Moriarty
Named OAC Player of the Week Erin Moriarty, a senior from Pickerington, was named Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) player of the week in women’s tennis, the league office released today. Moriarty turned in a perfect week, compiling an 8-0 record as her team turned in wins over Muskingum, Kenyon, Heidelberg and Mount Union. She won all four matches at first singles and all four matches at first doubles. Moriarty, an Academic All-American, improves to 9-3 in singles and 9-3 in doubles play this season. The Cardinals, 8-5 overall and 4-1 in the OAC, are scheduled to play four matches this week, traveling to Baldwin-Wallace, 3:30 p.m., today and Wilmington, 3:30 p.m., Tuesday before hosting John Carroll, 3:30 p.m., Friday. The squad closes out the week at Capital, 1 p.m., Saturday.
Cardinals
Look to Continue Winning Ways Expectations are again high for the 2004 Otterbein women’s tennis team. The squad returns seven letterwinners to a team that won both the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) regular-season and tournament championships. The Cardinals also have an 18-match regular-season winning streak, dating back to the 2002 season. Otterbein won the OAC Tournament in 2001 and finished second in 2002. “Leadership will be the key to the success of this year’s squad,” said seventh-year head coach Pat Anderson, who was named OAC Coach of the Year last season. “The experienced players have to lead the way for the younger players.” Heading the list of returnees will be seniors Erin Moriarty and Kelly Shields. Moriarty finished singles play with a 13-7 overall record and was 7-1 in the OAC. She is a three-time first-team All-OAC player and was named third-team Academic All-America in 2003. Moriarty won the number two singles match in the OAC Tournament championship against Ohio Northern last season. She has a 25-3 overall OAC single record and boasts a 26-2 mark in doubles action. Shields finished the 2003 season with a 13-8 mark and was 8-1 in conference play. She won the number three singles match in the OAC Championship and holds a 28-2 career singles record in conference action. Shields has also posted a 27-2 record in doubles action. Shields is a three-time first-team All-OAC player and was named second-team Academic All-OAC in 2003. Moriarty and Shields combined to post a perfect 9-0 OAC record in doubles matches and the duo claimed the first doubles match against Ohio Northern in the tournament championship. Juniors Jennifer Haley and Staci Hilborn will also bring experience to the table for the Cardinals this season. Haley was 8-1 overall and 4-1 in the OAC. She holds a 13-4 singles record for her career and was named an All-OAC honorable mention in 2002. Hilborn has been one of the most dominating players in the OAC in her first two years of collegiate tennis. She has posted an unblemished 17-0 OAC singles record for her career and is a two-time All-OAC second team selection. Hilborn won the number four singles title a year ago. Also returning for the Cardinals will be senior Andrea Wilson, junior Shawna Green, along with sophomore Tessa Wehrman. “The thing we like most about this year’s team is their positive work ethic and the way they support one another.” The 2004 schedule for the Cardinals looks to be a challenging one as the Cardinals will meet a number of nationally-ranked teams. Otterbein will open its season at home Feb. 7 against Slippery Rock, who advanced to the “Sweet 16” of the NCAA Tournament last year and sent their number-one singles player and doubles team to the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Tournament last year. Nationally-ranked Kenyon is also on this year’s schedule. The Cardinals travel to Florida March 18-27 and will meet a couple of nationally-ranked squads along the way. Otterbein will play nationally-ranked Pasco Hernando, Webber International, and Hillsborough while in Florida. Otterbein opens OAC play at Ohio Northern March 30. The Cardinals defeated the Polar Bears 5-4 in the OAC Championship match last season. "To get to the top you have to play the top,” Anderson said. “This year’s team is ready to take on the challenge."Moriarty
Named Academic All-America Tennis player Erin Moriarty was named to the 2003 Verizon Academic All-America Women’s College Division At-Large Team. She was a third team selection. The at-large teams, selected by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), are made up of student-athletes who compete in the sports of crew, gymnastics, skiing, fencing, ice hockey, swimming, water polo, field hockey, lacrosse, tennis, golf and rifle. Moriarty, a junior from Pickerington, carries a 3.988-grade-point average in mathematics. A three-time first team All-Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) performer, Moriarty helped lead her team to a perfect 9-0 OAC regular-season record and to the post-season OAC Tournament championship this spring. She compiled a 7-1 record at second singles and a 9-0 mark at first doubles in regular-season conference play. She tallied two points—winning second singles and first doubles—in Otterbein’s 5-4 win over Ohio Northern in the conference tournament championship match. Five
Cardinals Named All-OAC Five members of the 2003 Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) women’s tennis championship team were selected All-OAC the league office announced today. Sixth-year head coach Pat Anderson, who guided her team to a 5-4 decision over Ohio Northern to claim the OAC Tournament title, was named “OAC Coach of the Year” for the second time in her career. Otterbein also won the regular-season conference crown, sporting a perfect 9-0 mark in OAC play. The Cardinals landed three players on the first team. Juniors Erin Moriarty (second singles/first doubles), from Pickerington, and Kelly Shields (third singles/first doubles), from Bucyrus, joined freshman Tiffany Young (first singles/second doubles), from Westerville (Worthington Christian High School), on the first team. Those three players combined to score four of Otterbein’s five points in the conference tournament championship victory over Ohio Northern last Saturday in Columbus. Over the course of regular-season OAC play, the trio turned in a combined 22-3 record in singles play, and 16-1 in doubles action. Staci Hilborn (fourth singles/third doubles), a sophomore from Pickerington, was named to the second team. She captured fourth singles in the tournament championship match against Ohio Northern; and compiled a 7-0 OAC record in singles and 5-2 in doubles during the regular season. Virginia White (fifth singles/second doubles), a freshman from Lancaster (Fisher Catholic High School), earned honorable mention honors. She went 7-1 in both singles and doubles during the course of regular-season OAC play.Cards
Win OAC Championship in a Thriller Otterbein captured its fifth Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) championship in women’s tennis, edging defending OAC champion Ohio Northern, 5-4, Saturday in Columbus. The Cardinals, under sixth-year head coach Pat Anderson, advanced to the championship final with a pair of 5-0 wins over Heidelberg and Baldwin-Wallace in the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds held Friday. Tiffany Young, a freshman from Westerville (Worthington Christian), won a tie-breaker at first singles for Otterbein’s fourth point, and Kelly Shields, a junior from Bucyrus, put the Cardinals over the top by winning third singles in three sets. Otterbein fell behind 2-1 early, losing two doubles matches. Shields teamed up with Erin Moriarty, a junior from Pickerington, to win first doubles. Staci Hilborn, a sophomore from Pickerington, captured her team’s second point by winning fourth singles in straight sets. Moriarty captured second singles in straight sets for Otterbein’s third point. The tournament win capped off a perfect season for Otterbein. The Cardinals won all nine of their conference matches during the regular season. Otterbein finished second to Ohio Northern at the OAC Championships last season, and won the tournament in 2001. Singles Cards
Unbeaten in Conference Play Heading into OAC Championships Otterbein will take a perfect 9-0 conference record into this weekend’s Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Championships at Capital. Otterbein, the tournament’s top seed for the second straight year, finished the conference schedule with a 9-0 sweep of Baldwin-Wallace in Westerville Monday. In all, Otterbein has won 10 straight matches heading into Tuesday’s regular-season finale with Wittenberg. “Our main plan this year has just been to get better every time we go out on the courts,” said sixth-year head coach Pat Anderson. “We haven’t been as concerned with winning and losing.” Otterbein opens OAC Championship play, 1 p.m., Friday. The Cardinals will face the winner of Heidelberg-Marietta, who play at 8 a.m. Friday. Should the Cardinals win, they would play again at 4:30 p.m., with the championship match set for 1 p.m. Saturday. This season marks the second year that the OAC Championships have been a team-tournament format. If the seeds hold up, Otterbein would face fourth-seeded B-W in the semifinals, while Ohio Northern (8-1 OAC) would face John Carroll (7-2 OAC). “Even though we beat them 9-0, I still think they’re a good team,” Anderson said of B-W. “And the number-two seed, Ohio Northern, comes across John Carroll, which is going to be tough for them.” While Anderson admits she is not one for making predictions, she feels good about her team’s chances in the tournament. “I think we have a good shot to win the OAC this year,” Anderson said. Last season, Otterbein advanced to the championship match before falling, 5-3, to Ohio Northern. The Cardinals won the OAC Championship in 2001. Cards Unbeaten in Conference Play Already halfway through its Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) schedule,
Otterbein’s tennis squad sits atop the league standings with a perfect 5-0
record and is focusing on nothing less than a championship season. “We are improving with every match,” said head coach Pat Anderson.
“Every one of our ladies gets better each time they step on the court. It is
exciting to see.” The Cardinals have lost just eight points in OAC play this season—an
amazing feat that coach Anderson attributes to the team’s focus. “We take every match very serious,” Anderson said. “The key for us has
been our consistency. We focus on the match at hand and don’t look ahead.” The Cardinals front a young squad with a mixture of talent, including three
freshmen, three sophomores, three juniors and one senior. Earning this year’s No. one singles position is newcomer Tiffany Young (Westerville/Worthington
Christian). Just a freshman, Young has played like a veteran, compiling a
3-1 conference mark in singles play. “She’s no surprise,” Anderson said of Young’s talent. “I’ve known
of her talent for a long time and knew she would help our team right away.
She’s doing a great job for us.” Also helping the Cardinal cause is Erin Moriarty. The junior from
Pickerington holds a 3-1 singles mark and a 5-0 doubles record in OAC play. She
has shared time with Young at the No. one singles spot, but spends the majority
of her time at the No. two position. Otterbein will look to improve upon its perfect conference record Saturday,
traveling to Muskingum.
Young Named OAC Player of the Week Tiffany Young, a freshman from Westerville (Worthington Christian High School), was selected Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) “player of the week” in women’s tennis. Young went 5-0 on the week, leading her team to conference wins over Marietta, Mount Union and Ohio Northern. The Cardinals are unbeaten in conference play, sporting a 3-0 record. Young won both of her matches at first singles, and teamed up with Ginny White, a freshman from Lancaster (First Catholic High School), to win three matches at second doubles.
Cards Defeat ONU in OAC Opener Otterbein women’s tennis squad opened Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) play
Tuesday with a 5-4 win over defending-league champion Ohio Northern. The Cardinals battled the wind and darkness Tuesday evening to pick up an
important victory, which head coach Pat Anderson says she is very pleased to
have gotten through. “I am very happy with our performance, considering the weather we had to
deal with,” Anderson said. “Beating last year’s conference champions in
those type of conditions really shows how hard our girls work every day in
practice.” Otterbein’s Erin Moriarty (Pickerington/Pickerington) and Kelly Shields
(Bucyrus/Bucyrus) teamed up to defeat Ohio Northern’s Melanie Oleski and
Ashley Jones 8-6 in the first doubles match. Freshmen Tiffany Young
(Westerville/Worthington Christian) and Virginia White (Lancaster/First
Catholic) gave the Cardinals their second point with an 8-6 win at second
doubles over ONU’s Karen Lee and Dora Wiskirchen. The Cardinals won three of its five singles matches to capture the overall
victory. Young defeated Oleski 6-2, 3-6, 7-5 in the first singles match.
Otterbein’s Staci Hilborn (Pickerington/Pickerington) defeated Lee 6-7, 6-2,
6-3 at fourth singles. White went the distance to defeat Andrea Messer 6-4,
6-7(5), 7-5, giving the Cardinals the decisive fifth point to clinch the
victory. “This is a good start for us,” Anderson said. “We still have a long way
to go and some tough competition ahead of us, but I am pleased with where our
team is at. Our goal is to win the OAC and I don’t think that is out of reach
for us.” The Cardinals continue OAC play Thursday, traveling to Mount Union. (Written by John Wallace 5/4/02) Otterbein Takes Second at OAC Championships WESTERVILLE, OHIO — The Otterbein women’s tennis team, under fifth-year head coach Pat Anderson, finished second at the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) championships today at Mount Union College in Alliance. The top-seeded Cardinals were upset 5-3 by second-seeded Ohio Northern University in the championship match. Otterbein advanced into the title match with wins over eighth-seeded Heidelberg, 5-0, and fourth-seeded Baldwin-Wallace, 5-0, Friday at Mount Union. In the championship match, Kelly Shields, a sophomore from Bucyrus, and Staci Hilborn, a freshman from Pickerington, took second and third singles, respectively. Shields paired with sophomore Erin Moriarty of Pickerington at first doubles for Otterbein’s third point.
Ohio Northern scored its points with wins in first, fourth and fifth singles, and second and third doubles. Moriarty, Julie Kirsch, a junior from West Portsmouth (Portsmouth West High School), and Jenny Haley, a freshman from Tiffin (Calvert High School), played first, fourth and fifth singles, respectively, for Otterbein. Hilborn teamed with sophomore Andrea Wilson of Clyde at second doubles, while senior Erin Range of New Philadelphia paired with Haley at third doubles. (Written by John Wallace 4/29/02) Cards Complete Perfect Conference Season WESTERVILLE, OHIO-The Cardinals topped Ohio Northern and Baldwin-Wallace last week to capture the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) regular-season championship and complete a perfect 9-0-conference season. The defending OAC Champion Cards were helped by two wins each from first-singles Erin Moriarty, second-singles Kelly Sheilds, and sixth-singles Erin Range. Moriarty and Sheilds also paired for two victories at first doubles, while Range teamed with partner Jenny Haley to garner a pair of wins at third doubles. The OAC Championships will be held this weekend at Mt. Union College in Alliance. Cardinal standouts who will be competing, and their conference records, include: Moriarty (8-1); Sheilds (9-0); third-singles, Staci Hilborn (8-1); fourth-singles, Julie Kirsch (5-4); fifth-singles, Haley (7-2); and Range (9-0). At doubles the Cards may be even stronger, boasting two teams that are undefeated in conference play, and a third that has dropped only one OAC match this season. The Moriarty/Sheilds tandem is 8-0 at first doubles, while the Range/Haley pairing have gone 7-0 in conference at third doubles. Hilborn teams with Andrea Wilson at second doubles and the two finished the regular season 8-1 in the OAC. Their only setback came last week to Ohio Northern in a closely contested 9-8 (7-4) match.
Otterbein visits non-conference opponent Ashland today at 3:30 to complete its regular-season schedule, before moving on to the OAC Championships May 2-4 at Mt. Union.
(Written by John Wallace 4/22/02) Defending OAC Champion Cards Off To 6-0 Conference Start WESTERVILLE, OHIO-The Otterbein women’s tennis team has started Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) competition 6-0, picking up where they left off last season. The defending OAC Champion Cardinals, 9-5 overall, have won an impressive 32 of 36 individual singles matches against conference foes and 17 of 18 doubles matches. The Cardinals, under fifth-year head coach Pat Anderson, are tied with Ohio Northern atop the conference standings with only three OAC regular-season matches remaining. Senior sixth singles player Erin Range is 10-2 overall and her 4-0 start at sixth singles and 3-1 start at third doubles earned her OAC Player of the Week honors on April 1. Range is a perfect 6-0 in conference singles this season as is sophomore second singles player Kelly Shields and freshman third singles, Staci Hilborn. Shields is the defending OAC champion at second singles and teamed with Erin Moriarty to capture the first doubles conference title in 2001. This year the tandem is together again and undefeated in conference competition. The Cardinals host two OAC opponents this week, beginning Tuesday with the 4-4 (3-4 OAC), Fighting Muskies of Muskingum College. Otterbein then welcomes the Polar Bears of Ohio Northern University on Thursday for a match that could leave one of the squads alone at the top of the OAC standings. Both matches are scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m.
The team finishes the regular season on the road, traveling to Baldwin-Wallace on Saturday and then to Ashland, Monday, April 29. Mount Union will host the 2002 OAC Women’s Tournament May 2-4.
(Written 4/2/02) Cards Earn OAC POW Honors in Baseball, Softball and W's Tennis WESTERVILLE, OHIO-Three Otterbein student-athletes earned Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) "player of the week" honors for the first week of the spring season. Jeff Shellabarger, a senior right-hander from Plain City (Jonathan Alder High School), and Jessica Bush, a sophomore right-hander from Croton (Northridge High School), were selected pitchers of the week in baseball and softball, respectively; and Erin Range, a senior from New Philadelphia (New Philadelphia High School), was chosen in women's tennis. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
WESTERVILLE,
OHIO—Brittany Rings, a sophomore from Pickerington, Ohio (Pickerington Central
High School), was selected Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) women’s tennis
player of the week, the OAC released Monday.
WESTERVILLE,
OHIO—Three members of the Otterbein women’s tennis team earned All-Ohio
Athletic Conference (OAC) honors this season, the OAC released Wednesday.
The
Otterbein College women’s tennis team enters the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC)
tournament as the number-five seed, and will play fourth-seeded Mount Union in
the opening round Friday at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason. 