Tigers Win Two of Three Matches to Stay in Running For NCAA Tournament

Heading into the home stretch the Tiger women's tennis team is hoping to hold onto a spot in the first division of the NCAC and possibly qualify a player for the NCAA Division III tournament next month.

Last week, the Tigers lost to Division II power Northern Kentucky on Wednesday after waiting out two lightning/rain delays. The team may have lost the match, but freshman Emily Figel (Ft. Wayne, Ind./Homestead) and junior Shannon Oliphant (Columbus, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson), the team's No. 1 and 2 singles player respectively and No. 1 doubles team, both had perfect days. On Thursday, the Tigers rebounded to defeat visiting Otterbein and then on Saturday the Tigers ventured back into the NCAC to defeat visiting Wooster in a match that was moved indoors due to the threat of rain.

Figel is first in the NCAC at the No. 1 singles position with an 18-3 overall mark and 5-0 in the conference, while Oliphant is 14-4 overall and 5-0 in the NCAC, good for the third-best mark among conference competition. Both players were perfect last week.

The season comes to a close this week with a Tuesday match at defending champion Kenyon and the NCAC Tournament at Oberlin on Friday and Saturday. Wittenberg heads into the stretch run alone in third place in the NCAC.