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