| Anderson, IN — After dropping three of its last four Mid-Central Conference matches in heartbreaking fashion, the Goshen College women’s tennis team was able to salvage a bit of hope going into the post-season, defeating Anderson University by a 7-2 score Wednesday afternoon at Anderson.
Goshen (4-7, 1-7) took straight set decisions in four of the six singles’ flights and swept the doubles competition, winning its second consecutive non-conference event and heading into next weekend’s MCC Tournament with the taste of winning fresh in mind.
“We really needed this win tonight,” said Sarah Yoder, Goshen head coach. “After our disappointing loss a day ago to Spring Arbor (click here for related article), the whole team came out determined. We started the match by winning all of our doubles matches and then finished of by winning four of six singles.”
The Leafs’ bookends had no troubles dispatching of Anderson’s doubles teams, as seniors Diana Diaz and Laurelyn Foderaro cruised to an 8-3 win at number one while sophomore Hannah Groff and freshman Chelsea Wampler made quick work in an 8-1 win at number three. Only Goshen’s number two doubles tandem needed extra time to complete the sweep, as freshman Rachel Lanctot and junior Amanda Weybright escaped Anderson in a 9-7 decision at number two.
“Rachel and Chelsea had a bit of a fight at number two doubles, but they remained poised down the stretch to get enough winners and eventually take the team point,” Yoder said. “We have had trouble with exactly that recently.”
The majority of singles’ play had no problems with the Ravens, as Yoder’s squad won all four of its points in straight sets. Most notable was freshman Alyssa Dewing in the number five flight, knocking off Anderson’s Katie Porter in a ultra-quick 6-0, 6-2 decision. Likewise, Lanctot allowed just a single game to the Ravens’ Mandy Hackney at number three singles (a 6-0, 6-1 win), while Foderaro was efficient in a 6-2, 6-3 win at number two.
Goshen’s only losses of the day came at number one and number four singles, as Diaz and sophomore Hannah Groff were unable to come away with wins. Groff took Anderson’s Jessie Rigby to a 4-6, 6-4, 10-3 super-set tie breaker before falling, while Diaz retired from her match just five games in due to an undisclosed reason.
Yoder said she expects Diaz to be in top shape come MCC Tournament time.
“We have the upcoming weekend off from competition so everything we do for the next week will be to prepare for the upcoming conference tournament,” she said.
A match with Franklin College was originally scheduled for this Saturday, but an administrative issue at Franklin caused that event to be cancelled. With that change, the Leafs are now idle until the MCC Tournament, a three-day event scheduled to begin Thursday, Oct. 11.
The championships will begin promptly at 9 a.m. on Thursday at Fort Wayne Concordia High School.
Singles:
#1 Rachel Makin (A) def. Diana Diaz (G): 4-1, ret.
#2Laurelyn Foderaro (G) def. Katelyn Boes (A): 6-2, 6-3
#3 Rachel Lanctot (G) def. Mandy Hackney (A): 6-0, 6-1
#4 Jessie Rigby (A) def. Hannah Groff (G): 4-6, 6-4, 10-3
#5 Alyssa Dewing (G) def. Katie Porter (A): 6-0, 6-2
#6 Janie Beck (G) def. Emily Thompson (A) 6-4, 6-4
Doubles:
#1 Diaz/Foderao (G) def. Makin/Curtis (A): 8-3
#2 Lanctot/Weybright (A) def. Hackney/Rigby (A): 9-7
#3 Beck/Dewing (G) def. Thompson/Boes (A): 8-1
Exhibition matches:
Becky Curtis (A) def. Amanda Weybright (G): 6-4, 6-1
Chelsea Wampler (G) def. Holly Miller (A): 6-3, 6-2
Groff/Wampler (G) def. Miller/Porter (A): 8-3
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Freshman Alyssa Dewing