The Ladies of Kenyon College traveled to DePauw University on Feb. 18 with a No. 30 rank in the nation and beat the Tigers 1-8. However, the final score did not represent how close the match truly was.
Senior Alyssa Seneviratne and sophomore Meredith Breda played together in the No. 1 doubles spot. The two got off to a hot start by pulling up to a quick 5-2 lead in the first set but the Ladies came from behind and stole the win as they took the set 8-6. The No. 3 doubles team of junior Colleen Morris and junior Ali Bush were unable to outlast the Ladies, but kept the match close with an 8-5 loss. It was junior Megan Galle and junior Sarah Wilder of the No. 2 doubles team that were able to squeak out the lone win for the Tigers as they dominated in an 8-2 victory.
The Ladies also dominated the singles matches as well. At No. 1, Seneviratne lost a 6-4, 6-4 match. She battled hard but was unable to overpower her opponent. Morris played in the No. 2 spot and fought hard in the first set, losing 6-3, but fell quickly in the second set as she was swept 6-0. Breda and first-year Amanda Showalter contested well against their opponents at the No. 3 and 5 spots, each only dropping the first set 6-4, but plummeted in the second set at 6-1 and 6-4, respectively.
It was Galle at No. 6 and Bush at No. 4 that kept the fire going for the Tigers. Galle took the first set by taking a quick 6-2 win but could not keep the momentum going forward as she was defeated 6-2 and 6-1. Bush also kept DePauw’s hopes alive by going back and forth with her opponent into three sets but ultimately failed to get the win as she was taken down 6-4, 4-6, and 10-8.
The Tigers will next host 6-1 Illinois State University, a Division I competitor, at home on Feb. 23 at 4:30 p.m. on the Blackstock Courts.