Men's tennis brings home sweeps, moves 6-2
The DePauw University men's tennis team got this season's first pair of sweeps this past weekend, as they defeated both Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and Wittenberg University 9-0. The Wittenberg Tigers' loss moves them to 2-7 on the season, while Rose- Hulman is now 0-3. Now at 6-2, DePauw's season is almost at its halfway point. The two straight wins last weekend give them the momentum needed to make it far in the post-season.
The number-one doubles tandem of Ben Kopecky and Sam Miles started the doubles sweep with an 8-3 win. Sophomore Alec Kaczkowski recorded two shut out wins for the Tigers.
Kaczkowki had some positive things to say about the win.
"[doubles partner] Eric VaNatta and I are doing a great job of closing the net and moving," Kaczkowki said. "We are really starting to play well together and our chemistry is getting better and better."
Assistant Coach Andrew Gregory agrees and insists that "attacking the net" on the doubles court is a huge strength for the men.
"We have some good teams in the right spots this year," said Gregory.
Gregory is in his fourth season as assistant coach of both the men's and women's tennis teams. In 2012, he was awarded the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Central Region Assistant Coach of the Year.
The singles matches were all won in straight sets. Kopecky, Miles, Kaczkowski, Eric Bruynseels (junior), Nick Thomson (sophopmore) and Chris Bertolini (junior) all accounted for DePauw's dominating wins.
"I think we [the men's tennis team] are all playing well," said Kaczkowski. "It's a good confidence booster to beat a tough conference opponent, especially going into our match against Butler."
Butler, a Division 1 program, will be a good test for the Tigers in the matches to come. The TIgers play at Butler at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, March 19.
Miles, a senior leader, believes that these two wins have led to an increasing sense of confidence leading into the second half of the season.
Doubles team Emhardt and MacPhail continue winning streak
The tenth ranked women's tennis team gained more confidence in senior leader Caroline Emhardt than ever before. After a challenging win over University of Chicago, Emhardt was named NCAC Player of the Week.
She won both her singles and doubles matches (8-5; 6-0, 5-7, 1-0 respectively). Emhardt and her partner, junior Maggie MacPhail, have been almost unstoppable at number two doubles for the Tigers this season. The duo hasn't lost as a doubles team since October.
MacPhail was awarded NCAC player of the week earlier this season, when she contributed to the Tigers 6-3 victory over then-ranked Washington University in St. Louis.
Both teams are are looking forward to spring break competition in Hilton Head, South Carolina. The men and women will take on Wisconsin -Whitewater on Wednesday, March 26. Afterward, the women will see competition against Concordia University, Carleton College and Emory University. The men face off against Colby College, North Carolina Wesleyan College and Kenyon College.