Scots to Close Out 2008 With Denison, NCAC Tourney

Brenna Hart

This week, The College of Wooster will wrap up its regular season with a challenge, hosting No. 5 ranked Denison University on Monday, April 21, and then it will look to make an impact at the weekend’s North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament, hosted by Oberlin College. The eight-team event will take place Friday and Saturday, April 25-26, with the winner receiving the league’s automatic berth into the NCAA Div. III Tournament. The Fighting Scots’ first-round foe will likely be top-seeded and six-time defending champ Denison. Kenyon College owns the most NCAC titles with 15. Wooster is hoping to improve on last year’s eighth-place showing when it lost to Denison 5-0, Wittenberg University 5-2, and Allegheny College 5-3.
           
Last Week: The Scots lost three matches, falling to 0-12 on the season, including 0-5 in the NCAC.

On April 14, host and then-No. 21 ranked Kenyon was too much for Wooster, sweeping to a 9-0 decision.

On April 17, sophomores Elissa Lauber (Dover, Ohio / Dover) and Brenna Hart (Avon Lake, Ohio / Avon Lake) defeated the top doubles team from Ohio Wesleyan University, highlighting the Scots’ 8-1 setback during conference action. Lauber and Hart joined forces to prevail 9-7 over a duo that entered the match with a 6-4 record together. Trailing 2-1 after the doubles, Wooster played several close singles matches, as freshman Suzanne Hamby (Elmhurst, Ill. / York Community) and sophomore Eden Kovacik (North Olmsted, Ohio / St. Joseph Academy) nearly pushed their opponents to a third set. Hamby dropped a close first one before succumbing 6-4, 6-2 at the No. 4 position, and at No. 5, Kovacik fell 6-1, 6-4.

On April 19, rival Wittenberg visited the Scots, coming away with a 9-0 triumph. Lauber and Hart again played a good match at No. 1 doubles, dropping an 8-5 decision, while in singles play, Wooster’s top effort came from Kovacik, who won six games at No. 5 before succumbing 6-4, 6-2.