Wittenberg Women's Tennis Starts Off Spring Season With Split Week

Oliphant

The Wittenberg women's tennis team opened the second half of its 2001-02 season with a 5-0 loss at DePauw and a 6-1 win over Chicago in a tri-match at DePauw on Saturday. The Tigers swept the doubles matches and got singles wins from No. 1 singles Emily Figel (Ft. Wayne, Ind./Homestead), No. 2 singles Shannon Oliphant (Columbus, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson) and No. 5 singles Valerie Allen (Cincinnati, Ohio/Colerain) in defeating Chicago. The Tigers have a very different look in 2001-02 after a third-place NCAC finish last season. Gone are four players who earned letters in 2001, including first singles and All-NCAC standout Erin Beach. In their stead, second singles and All-NCAC player Oliphant leads a talented but inexperienced crew into action in 2002.

Oliphant, who went 17-7 overall last year and 6-1 in the NCAC, is once again slated to play the No. 2 singles position, and she will be joining up with Figel, a freshmen, at first doubles. Figel will play first singles this spring after advancing to the championship match of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association regional tournament.
Rounding things out, sophomores Megan Maher (Chagrin Falls, Ohio/Kenston), Deana Nowakowski (Uniontown, Ohio/Lake) and Allen and freshmen Ellie Hazelbaker (Cincinnati, Ohio), Bonnie Egan (Cincinnati, Ohio/Turpin) and Sarah Fassler (Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Ursula) are battling for starting spots. Maher and Nowakowski were starters a year ago.

The Tigers kick things off in Florida next week. The home opener is slated for Wednesday, March 27 against Northern Kentucky.