October 24, 2009
Wolverines win 23rd straight title, clinch NCAA berth
ERIE, Pa. -- The Grove City College women's tennis team captured its 23rd consecutive Presidents' Athletic Conference title Saturday afternoon by winning eight of nine flights at the PAC Championships. The Wolverines finished with 52 team points, out-distancing second-place Westminster, which earned 38 points.
By winning the PAC title, Grove City receives an automatic berth in the NCAA Divsion III Championship Tournament next spring. It will be Grove City's second straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
Junior Natalie Walten (Stewartstown, Pa./Kennard-Dale) earned the conference's Player of the Year award after winning the conference title at first singles. Walten earned a 7-5, 6-0 win over Westminster's April Scudere in the championship match. Walten reached the finals with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Thomas More's Lauren Race in the semifinals.
Four other Grove City players also won singles titles Saturday. At third singles, sophomore Stacy Moon (Lima, Ohio/Shawnee) toppled top-seeded Alex Bailey of Westminster in the finals, 6-2 and 6-1. Moon, the second seed, opened the tournament Friday with a 6-0, 6-0 quarterfinal victory over Washington & Jefferson's Stephanie Brueck. Moon advanced to the finals with a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Thomas More's Emily Wesselman.
Junior Kimberly Peterson (New Castle, Pa./Neshannock) won the conference title at fourth singles with a 6-2, 6-3 decision over Westminster's Rachel Jack. Peterson reached the final round by blanking Chatham's Megan Padula in the semifinals, 6-0, 6-0.
Senior Lisa Baldwin (Charlotte, N.C./Covenant Day) dropped just one game in winning the PAC title at No. 5 singles. After sweeping Waynesburg's Jess Mally in the semifinals, 6-0, 6-0, Baldwin won the league title with a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Westminster's Dana Griesmer.
Sophomore Christina Bedi (Chesapeake, Va./Oscar F. Smith) topped Westminster entry Jane Larson for the sixth singles title, 6-1 and 6-0. Bedi bounced Chatham's Jenny Murphy in Friday's semifinals, 6-0, 6-1.
Grove City also swept all three doubles title Saturday. At first doubles, Moon and sophomore Megan Bennett (Poland, Ohio/Poland) teamed for an 8-4 win in the finals over Bailey and Scudere. The Moon-Bennett tandem reached the finals with an 8-5 win over the Chatham duo of Barb Petty and Alexa Coughenhour.
Baldwin and Peterson picked up an 8-4 win over Westminster's Jack and Hilary Newman in the second singles championship match. Baldwin-Peterson blanked Chatham's Alisa Boslett-Meg Padula in the semifinals, 8-0.
Walten and sophomore Reena Barnett (El Paso, Texas/Homeschooled) completed the doubles sweep by capturing the conference title at third doubles. Walten and Barnett won the crown with an 8-3 victory over Larson and Lauren Latinovich of Westminster. The Grove City combination rolled past Chatham's Ashley Carter and Kaitlyn Lucas in the semifinals, 8-1.
Bennett earned runner-up at second singles as Newman pulled out a 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 win in the championship match. Bennett reached the finals with a 6-1, 6-1 semifinal victory over Waynesburg's Stephanie Ball.
Chatham coach Aaron Wilf earned PAC Coach of the Year honors. Chatham finished third with 20 points, followed by Waynesburg (13) and Thomas More (12). Bethany and W&J both failed to score a point.
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