| Goshen, IN — It has been a case of getting painfully close without capturing a win for much of the season in Goshen College women’s tennis, and Saturday at the Goshen College Tennis Complex was no exception: Goshen dropped a 5-4 decision to Mid-Central Conference foe Huntington University, further exemplifying the point.
Goshen (3-6, 1-6) has now lost two of its MCC matches by 5-4 scores and another three by 6-3 counts, leaving head coach Sarah Yoder searching for ways to get over the proverbial hump.
“We played well today against a very solid team,” she said Saturday afternoon. “We just couldn’t quite get a fifth point.”
Huntington, which came into the day’s match boasting an 8-3 record overall and a 4-2 mark in MCC competition, could only gather a split in singles’ play, as Yoder’s squad hung tough early. Cruising wins by seniors Laurelyn Foderaro at number one and Janie Beck at number six gave way to an incredible, marathon event at number three singles, where freshman Rachel Lanctot took a 7-6 (7-3), 3-6, 7-5 decision over Huntington’s Jessica Deter.
“Both Laurelyn and Rachel had phenomenal days,” Yoder said. “Laurelyn cruised through her singles match, dropping only two games and Rachel won a marathon, three-plus hour match at three singles. This was a huge mental win for her. She has played some very close matches this season at number three singles only to come up short in several of them. After finding herself down 4-1 in the third set, she completely regrouped and won six of the next seven games. She showed tremendous mental strength and pure desire this afternoon.”
Lanctot was again called to elevate her game in doubles play, as senior Diana Diaz suffered a sprained left ankle at the conclusion of her 6-2, 7-5 number one singles loss. With Diaz out of the mix, Yoder teamed Lanctot with Foderaro at the number one doubles position and the duo responded: The Foresters were no match for the newly-grouped pair, falling by a score of 8-3. It would be Goshen’s only doubles point of the day.
“Rachel stepped up well today and played a very solid match (at doubles),” Yoder said. “She and Laurelyn controlled the match from the beginning with solid serves and serve receive. It was nice to see Rachel move up a position and still compete so well.”
Needing one more point to secure the team win, Goshen came up short. An 8-2 Huntington win at number two doubles and an 8-4 decision at the third flight closed the door on the Leafs.
“We started the day by winning three singles matches and ended with strong play by Laurelyn and Rachel at doubles,” Yoder said. “We needed just a little bit more. Janie Beck had a solid win at number six singles for us. She fought off a feisty player who forced many close games. Janie showed a lot of hustle and solid ground strokes today.”
It remains to be seen just how severe Diaz’s twisted ankle will be. The senior has fought through an injury-plagued senior season to post an overall record of 3-4 at number one singles and 7-4 at number one doubles.
Goshen will have the remainder of a long weekend to recuperate, as the team will next face off against MCC rival Spring Arbor University on Tuesday at the Goshen Tennis Complex. Match time is slated to begin at 4 p.m.
Singles:
#1 Raelynn Althoff (H) def. Diana Diaz (G): 6-2, 7-5
#2
Laurelyn Foderaro (G) def. Kendra Ganz (H): 6-1, 6-1
#3
Rachel Lanctot (G) def. Jessica Deter (H): 7-6 (7-3), 3-6, 7-5
#4
Katie Sprunger (H) def. Hannah Groff (G): 7-5, 6-1
#5
Erica Abel (H) def. Alyssa Dewing (G): 7-6 (7-3), 6-1
#6
Janie Beck (G) def. Liz Hull (H): 6-3, 6-4
Doubles:
#1 Lanctot/Foderao (G) def. Althoff/Hull (H): 8-3
#2
Deter/Ganz (H) def. Weybright/Groff (G): 8-2
#3
Zartman/Sprunger (H) def. Beck/Dewing (G): 8-4
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Freshman Rachel Lanctot