2008 Woodie Awards
Women's tennis team misses national tourney
Issue date: 4/27/07 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
Close, but no cigar. It's a familiar story for the Southwest Baptist women's tennis team. After just missing the cut for last year's NCAA Division II Tennis Championships, the Lady Bearcats found themselves in an almost identical situation this year. Early this week, SBU Head Coach John Bryant had the unpleasant task of telling the team that they had just missed the making the national tournament, again.
"Schools that win their conference tournaments get automatic bids to nationals," Bryant said. "That is what hurt us this year."
Wednesday, April 18, SBU was ranked eighth in the North Central Region, one of eight Division II regions that send their top eight teams to the 64-team national tournament, according to Bryant. On Wednesday, April 25, the Lady 'Cats had moved from eighth to seventh in the Region, but were denied a berth in the tournament after Mesa State and Winona State captured their respective conference tournament titles - which carry with them automatic berths to the national tournament.
Unlike last season, where SBU finished with a six-meet losing streak, the 2007 Lady 'Cats finished strong, winning three of their last four meets. Taking on MIAA rival Truman State April 20, the day before the MIAA Tournament, the Lady 'Cats ran up a quick 3-0 lead after sweeping the meet's three doubles matches. Junior Chelsey Janzen and sophomore Trish Moceo won 8-3 in number one doubles, freshman Jolee Cook and junior Melanie Farris posted an 8-4 win in the number two doubles match and juniors Lauren Hodson and Iveta Wolfgramm teamed up for an 8-4 victory at number three doubles.
In singles, Wolfgramm (3-6, 6-4, 6-4) and Hodson (6-1, 6-1) both captured wins to give SBU a 5-2 meet win.
Playing Missouri Southern State the next day in the opening round of the MIAA Tournament, the Lady 'Cats avenged an earlier 5-4 loss to the Lady Lions with a convincing 5-1 win. Janzen and freshman Johanna Olsson (8-4), Cook / Farris (8-4) and Hodson / Wolfgramm (8-3) all secured doubles victories with Janzen (6-3, 4-6, 7-5) and Olsson (6-3, 6-4) winning in singles.
After falling 5-0 to unbeaten and nationally-ranked Washburn (25th) in the semifinals later in the day, the Lady 'Cats were slated to play Truman State the following day in the third place meet.
Meeting for the second time in three days, SBU defeated Truman by an identical 5-2 score. Janzen / Olsson (8-4), Cook / Farris (8-3) and Hodson / Wolfgramm (8-2) all captured doubles victories with Olsson (6-4, 6-1) and Wolfgramm (6-1, 6-2) picking up singles wins. The win gave SBU a 12-10 record for the season while Truman fell to 16-9. In the MIAA title meet, Emporia State (14-2) upset undefeated Washburn (19-1) 5-2.
Reflecting on the season and looking ahead to 2008, Bryant says senior leadership could make the difference in getting the Lady 'Cats that elusive, first-ever national tournament berth.
"We've got everybody back next year," said Bryant. "In many cases, a senior-dominated team is usually focused on finding a way to win. We'll see what happens."
"Schools that win their conference tournaments get automatic bids to nationals," Bryant said. "That is what hurt us this year."
Wednesday, April 18, SBU was ranked eighth in the North Central Region, one of eight Division II regions that send their top eight teams to the 64-team national tournament, according to Bryant. On Wednesday, April 25, the Lady 'Cats had moved from eighth to seventh in the Region, but were denied a berth in the tournament after Mesa State and Winona State captured their respective conference tournament titles - which carry with them automatic berths to the national tournament.
Unlike last season, where SBU finished with a six-meet losing streak, the 2007 Lady 'Cats finished strong, winning three of their last four meets. Taking on MIAA rival Truman State April 20, the day before the MIAA Tournament, the Lady 'Cats ran up a quick 3-0 lead after sweeping the meet's three doubles matches. Junior Chelsey Janzen and sophomore Trish Moceo won 8-3 in number one doubles, freshman Jolee Cook and junior Melanie Farris posted an 8-4 win in the number two doubles match and juniors Lauren Hodson and Iveta Wolfgramm teamed up for an 8-4 victory at number three doubles.
In singles, Wolfgramm (3-6, 6-4, 6-4) and Hodson (6-1, 6-1) both captured wins to give SBU a 5-2 meet win.
Playing Missouri Southern State the next day in the opening round of the MIAA Tournament, the Lady 'Cats avenged an earlier 5-4 loss to the Lady Lions with a convincing 5-1 win. Janzen and freshman Johanna Olsson (8-4), Cook / Farris (8-4) and Hodson / Wolfgramm (8-3) all secured doubles victories with Janzen (6-3, 4-6, 7-5) and Olsson (6-3, 6-4) winning in singles.
After falling 5-0 to unbeaten and nationally-ranked Washburn (25th) in the semifinals later in the day, the Lady 'Cats were slated to play Truman State the following day in the third place meet.
Meeting for the second time in three days, SBU defeated Truman by an identical 5-2 score. Janzen / Olsson (8-4), Cook / Farris (8-3) and Hodson / Wolfgramm (8-2) all captured doubles victories with Olsson (6-4, 6-1) and Wolfgramm (6-1, 6-2) picking up singles wins. The win gave SBU a 12-10 record for the season while Truman fell to 16-9. In the MIAA title meet, Emporia State (14-2) upset undefeated Washburn (19-1) 5-2.
Reflecting on the season and looking ahead to 2008, Bryant says senior leadership could make the difference in getting the Lady 'Cats that elusive, first-ever national tournament berth.
"We've got everybody back next year," said Bryant. "In many cases, a senior-dominated team is usually focused on finding a way to win. We'll see what happens."
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