| Fort Wayne, IN — After a
bizarre season that saw the Goshen College women’s tennis
team win a program-record four matches by 5-4 scores and compete
in a total five matches with that final tally, this weekend’s
Mid-Central Conference Championships followed suit, as Goshen
narrowly missed qualifying for NAIA Regional competition by finishing
fourth at the event.
Protocol was — of course — turned upside down at the
three-day event, as bitterly cold temperatures and howling winds
forced the usual outdoor competition indoors, prolonging each day’s
activities severely. When the last point had been scored, however,
Goshen had a conference champion and three All-Mid-Central Conference
awards in its midst, greatly improving from the team’s fifth-place
team finish last season (click here for article).
“It was a bizarre weekend of tennis,” said Sarah Yoder,
Goshen head coach, following the conclusion of Saturday’s
final matches. “Because of the temperatures and wind, all
play was moved indoors to Wildwood Racquet Club and Pine Ridge
Racquet
Club from the outdoor courts at Fort Wayne Concordia High School.
This move made the weekend more pleasant, but also prolonged every
day, even after the decision to shorten doubles matches from best
of three sets to eight game pro-sets. We began play on Thursday
at 11:30 a.m. and did not leave the racquet club until 1:50 a.m.
Certainly a long day to start the conference tournament.”
Despite the changes, Yoder and company knew exactly what it needed
to do to qualify for the program’s fifth regional appearance
in the last six years — and fifth in school history: Score
more points than Huntington University, as the Leafs and Foresters
battled for the third and final regional spot following Indiana
Wesleyan University’s and Marian College’s claim of
the league’s top two regional placements due to regular-season
results.
“We knew heading into tournament that we would need to earn
more points than Huntington if we were to qualify for regional
play
in the spring, with IWU and Marian qualifying during the regular
season,” Yoder said. “This was disappointing because
we had a much closer dual match with Marian than we did with Huntington.
Still, we were optimistic that a few upsets could happen. There
were possibilities during the first round to score additional points
and possibly help us place higher than we did during season, but
it was not our day for doubles and this ended up really hurting
us.”
Goshen (6-3, 5-3) dropped all three initial doubles matches to
start the tournament, including a disappointing 8-3 loss at number
one. Senior Hannah Gingerich and junior Laurelyn Foderaro were
seeded fourth — the only Leafs’ doubles unit to be
seeded — and dropped a tough decision to an unseeded squad
from the University of St. Francis.
“Laurelyn and Hannah lost to a team they had beaten during
season 8-4,” Yoder said. “That was the toughest loss
for us. (Junior) Diana (Diaz) and (senior) Katie (Martin) lost
to a tough
IWU team who went on to win (the number two) position, 8-1. (Junior)
Janie (Beck) and (senior) Erin (Gotwals) started out strong against
a team that had beaten them badly earlier in the season at number
three singles before losing 8-4. They were up 4-3 at the beginning
of their match, but went on lose the next five games.”
Fortunately for Yoder’s squad, singles play did not resemble
its doubles performances, as the Leafs’ three seeded positions — numbers
two, three and six — all rolled to first-round wins. That
was sadly not the case for Foderaro at the number one slot, as
the team’s ace dropped a 6-2, 7-5 loss to three seed Sarah
Bauss from Indiana Wesleyan. Despite losing her only two tournament
matches she participated in, Foderaro was voted All-MCC by league
coaches.
“Laurelyn played a great match against the IWU player who
went on to win the number one singles position,” Yoder said. “She
lost the first set 6-2, but changed her strategy in the second
set. Both players held serve and Laurelyn was up 5-4 in the second
before losing three close games. She played with a lot of heart
and determination, but just couldn’t close out the second
set. This was a disappointing way to end her very successful season.
Her efforts in both singles and doubles have been invaluable this
season. Her intensity in practice and matches has been priceless
and her addition to the team helped boost us to the next level.”
Martin (number four singles) and freshman Hannah Groff (number
five) both lost straight-set decisions to open singles play as
well.
Goshen’s initial three points were never in question, however,
as Gingerich (number two singles’ four seed), Diaz (number
three singles’ two seed) and Gotwals (number six singles’ three
seed) all rolled to first-round wins in straight sets.
Friday’s action was not as kind to Gingerich, however, as
the quiet senior leader dropped a tough 6-2, 6-2 decision to Indiana
Wesleyan’s Krisit Haddad (the position’s number one
seed). Gingerich was voted All-Mid-Central Conference as well — her
second honor — and finished with a career singles
record of 30-16 and a doubles mark of 31-20.
“Hannah finished her tennis career at Goshen with a match
against the number one seed from IWU on the second day,” Yoder
said. “She
played hard and gave it everything she had, but just couldn’t
top Haddad. She ends an absolutely outstanding tennis career. There
will be a big hole to fill next season with her graduation.”
Perhaps playing for their defeated teammate, both Diaz and Gotwals
cruised to second-round wins in their respective flights, as Diaz
knocked off third-seeded Jess Divine (Marian) by a 6-4, 6-1 score
and Gotwals the second-seeded Michele Sizemore (also from Marian)
by a 6-2, 6-3 count.
“Diana took a quick 4-1 lead in her second-round match and
looked like she would be able to close out easily,” Yoder
said. “Instead
her opponent forged a comeback and Diana soon found herself playing
a tie-breaker to determine the first set. Diana remained focused
and intense and won the tie-breaker 8-6. Her opponent was completely
deflated after losing a close first set and Diana showed no mercy
and went on to win a dominating 6-1 second set. Erin came out focused
and ready to play in her second round. She upset the number two
seed in two relatively easy sets. Erin’s groundstrokes were
on fire. She hit with incredible pace and placement. She was on
a mission and confident in her game. Erin’s two losses of
the season were ones she would have won on a different day and
she came out to avenge her losses.”
With Diaz and Gotwals poised to make a run at respective MCC Championships,
it was Gotwals that completed the feat: The senior made easy work
of the flight’s number one seed — Melissa Masterson
from Indiana Wesleyan — winning a 6-2, 6-3 decision for Goshen’s
first MCC Champion in six seasons.
“Erin’s championship match was the highlight of the
weekend,” Yoder
said. “Earlier in the season she had lost a hard-fought,
three-set match to Masterson from IWU. She had thought about that
loss all season and was excited about having another shot at Masterson.
Erin came out for her match focused and determined and she played
her best match of the season to win a convincing 6-2, 6-3 match
and win the title at number six singles. Erin ends her tennis career
with an impressive 28-8 record at number six singles over the course
of three years.”
Diaz wasn’t as fortunate against the number one seed in number
three singles play, however, dropping a 6-4, 6-1 decision to Indiana
Wesleyan’s Julia Hedgebeth in the championship match. The
appearance was a victory in and of itself for Diaz, as the Leafs’ 2005
ace was hampered much of this season with compartment syndrome
in her legs.
“Diana started out really strong and jumped to a 4-1 lead,
despite all her injuries and illnesses,” Yoder said. “Hedgebeth
did not let down though. She regrouped and roared back by winning
the next five games. Hedgebth carried her momentum into the second
set and won a quick 6-1 set. Despite the loss, I was so proud of
Diana’s effort this weekend and all season. She has played
through incredible pain for the last two months. Her efforts helped
us win important matches this season and she earned us two hard
fought points in the tournament. I am excited about her having
a chance to rest and heal.”
Goshen’s six team points were four behind Huntington’s
10, as the Foresters actually finished ahead of Marian (eight points)
in capturing the league’s third and final NAIA Regional qualifying
bid.
League coaches were keen to the stellar coaching of Yoder this
season, as the second-year coach earned her first MCC Co-Coach
of the Year Award, sharing the honor with Huntington’s Gary
Turner. Yoder guided her team to a 5-3 conference record following
a 3-5 mark last season, sending a pair of players to tournament
championship matches for the first time in three years. Despite
losing three key seniors in Gingerich, Gotwals and Martin this
spring, Yoder said she is excited about the possibilities of next
year with a strong group returning.
“Last year we had all positions eliminated after the second
round (of the MCC Tournament),” Yoder said. “We finished
this season disappointed to not qualify for regionals, but very
aware of the improvement we made over last season. We will miss
our seniors dearly, but we’ve got a strong core returning.
If we can add some quality recruits to the mix, we have a chance
at improving again. I am already excited about the possibilities.”
Final
Results
Indiana Wesleyan-26
Huntington-10
Marian-8
Goshen-6
Grace-5
Taylor-4
Bethel-3
St. Francis-1
Spring Arbor-0
Singles:
#1 (unseeded) Laurelyn Foderaro (G) lost to (#3 seed) Sarah Bauss
(IWU): 6-2, 7-5
#2 (4 seed) Hannah Gingerich (G) def Kristine Bolinger (T): 6-2,
6-1
lost to (1 seed) Kristi Haddad (IWU): 6-2, 6-2
#3 (2 seed) Diana Diaz (G) def. Kyla Zenan (GR): 6-4, 6-2
def. (3 seed) Jess Divine (M): 6-4, 6-1
lost to (1 seed) Julia Hedgebeth (IWU): 6-4, 6-1
#4 (unseeded) Katie Martin (G) lost to (2 seed) Calli Fike (HU): 6-1, 6-4
#5 (unseeded) Hannah Groff (G) lost to (4 seed) Jessica Deter (HU): 6-1, 6-2
#6 (3 seed) Erin Gotwals (G) def. Shannon Skarritt (SAU): 6-1, 6-0
def. (2 seed) Michele Sizemore (M): 6-2, 6-3
def. (1 seed) Melissa Masterson (IWU): 6-2, 6-3
Doubles:
#1 (4 seed) Foderaro/Gingerich (G) lost to Delany/Martin (SF):
8-3
#2 (unseeded) Diaz/Martin (G) lost to (2 seed) Hedgebeth/Raymond
(IWU): 8-1
#3 (unseeded) Gotwals/Janie Beck (G) lost to (3 seed) Deter/Hull
(HU): 8-4
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  Senior
Hannah Gingerich
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