Women's Tennis Splits Matches Against Hanover and Berea

HANOVER, IND.  --  A three match in two day marathon weekend came to an end for the Defiance College women's tennis team with a split by the Yellow Jackets falling to Hanover (Ind.) College, 9-0, in a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference match, but defeating Berea (Ky.) College, 5-4, in a non-conference matchup to end the day.

In the match against Berea, Defiance (1-3) captured its first win of the season despite beginning the match trailing, 2-1, following the doubles matches.  The Jackets lone victory came at the third doubles spot with the duo of sophomore Cayla Walker (Archbold) and junior Mackenzie Combs (Milford Center/Fairbanks) who defeated their opponents by the final score of 8-4.  

The team of Courtney Alexander (Bristolville/Bristol) and senior Colby Heeter (Bloomsburg, Pa./Bloomsburg) played a close match at second doubles, but would fall short, losing by the final of 8-4.

Defiance lost both the first two singles matches and trailed Berea, 4-1.  The Yellow Jackets then won the last four singles matches en route to the 5-4 come-from-behind win.  Alexander needed all three sets at third singles, dropping the first set, 7-5, but capturing the next two, 6-2 and 6-4 to get the win.  Heeter also won her individual match in three sets, losing the first set, 7-5, but then won 6-0 and 7-5 for the Jackets' second singles victory and narrow the team score to 4-3.

The final two victories for DC came at fifth and sixth singles by Walker and Combs.  Both won their individual matches in two sets with Walker blanking her opponent, 6-0 and 6-0.  Combs defeated her opponent by the scores of 7-5 and 6-0.

Earlier in the day against Hanover, the Panthers got off to a quick start winning all three doubles matches by the scores of 8-0 for an early 3-0 team score.

The closest match for the Jackets in singles play was turned in by Hesterman at first singles.  Hesterman won three games in both sets played, but lost the overall match 6-3 and 6-3.  Heeter and sophomore Stephanie Houston (Amherst/Marion L. Steele) won a game each in their respective matches at fourth and sixth singles with the overall matches going in favor of Hanover, 6-0 and 6-1.  The Panthers posted victories in the other two singles matches by scores of 6-0 and 6-0 en route to the overall 9-0 victory.

Defiance will host its next three matches at home beginning with a doubleheader on Tuesday, Sept. 13 against Ohio Northern University and Concordia (Mich.) University at the Dix Tennis Courts.  The match against ONU is scheduled to begin at noon, followed by Concordia at 5 p.m.