Tigers Take Sixth in the NCAC Tournament

The Wittenberg men's and women's tennis teams put the finishing touches on the 2004-05 season last weekend at the North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament at Denison. The tournaments were completely moved indoors as the snow swirled around outside in high winds and unseasonably cold temperatures.

On the men's side, Wittenberg wound up sixth for the second consecutive year, losing to Oberlin in the opening match, defeating Earlham and then losing to Allegheny. The Tigers, who checked in with a 12-9 overall record at season's end, came into the tourney as the runner-up in the weaker West Division.

Without question, the best weekend was had by the doubles tandem of juniorsShane Hutton (Charleston, W.Va./Catholic) and Nick McLean (Port Clinton, Ohio/Port Clinton), who swept their three matches. That performance, in combination with a 5-2 record in limited time together, was enough to earn them second-team All-NCAC honors. Hutton, who went 6-16 while battling illness in his first year as the team's No. 1 singles player, made second-team all-conference in singles.

The Tigers' best singles record was turned in by freshman Ryan Snyder (Trotwood, Ohio/Madison), who went 17-1 overall, with his only loss coming last week at No. 4 singles against Sinclair Community College. Sophomore John Shields (New Kensington, Pa./Valley) tied Snyder with 17 wins while playing at the Nos. 4 and 5 positions primarily. He won his last nine matches.