Shepherd University Athletics

RAMS FINISH THIRD

CHARLESTON. W.Va.--Something so certain to happen can turn around in an instant, as is the case with the Shepherd University women's tennis team.

In mid-September, the Rams took their first step in defending their 2003 championship by squeaking out a win over perennial contender the University of Charleston. On October 3rd, the Rams were lined up against the West Liberty Hilltoppers--the other perennial contender in the WVIAC--in a match to determine the top team in the conference. With Shepherd on their way to take a three-to-zero lead in the team score (five matches are all that's needed to win a dual match), disaster struck.

The Rams' top player, senior Missy Azeltine, took a fall, tearing her ACL and rendering her out for the season. With Azeltine missing from the lineup, Shepherd took a fall themselves, bowing to West Liberty by a score of 6-3. In fact, with Azeltine, the Rams were 7-1 and 4-0 in the conference. Without her, the Rams went 3-5 and 2-2. Despite the downturn, the Rams maintained their number two seed in the WVIAC and had hoped to salvage another title this weekend. Shepherd came up short.

The season concluded today in Charleston with Shepherd taking third place in the nine-team West Virginia Conference. In a format introduced this year, the conference tournament is played with strictly team competition--no individual draws exist. The Rams, seeded two, took out seventh-seeded West Virginia State by a score of 5-0 before facing the third- seeded University of Charleston in the semifinals. The Golden Eagles prevailed in a 5-1 decision. West Liberty went on to defeat Charleston in the final, became champions for the 11th time in thirteen years.

Shepherd closes out their season with a 10-6 overall record and 6-2 in the conference. Three Shepherd players earned All-WVIAC honors: Azeltine, Tracy Fries, and Jessi Clarke. Azeltine was 12-4 in individual match-play this season, while Fries went 20-9 and Clarke 22-6.

WVIAC Quarterfinals:

(2) SHEPHERD 5 (7) W.VA. STATE 0

(doubles played first)

1D. Catherine Daniel-Ashley Portrey d. LeAnn Shingler-Michelle Lees 8-5

2D. Clarke-Fries d. Megan Adkins-Mary Miller 8-0

3D. Julie Lipscomb-Melissa McCabe d. Erica Merrifield-Ashley Tinchler 8-1

1. Fries d. Shingler 6-0, 6-0

6. Sarah Eisel d. Cassie Dillow 6-0, 6-0

(singles #2-5 suspended)

WVIAC Semifinals:

(3) CHARLESTON 5 (2) SHEPHERD 1

1D. Ashley Crank-Danielle Warner (UC) d. Daniel-Portrey 8-3

2D. Clarke-Fries (S) d. Kristen Bryant-Krista Jacobs 8-6

3D. Amber Bouts-Christi Tenney (UC) d. Lipscomb-McCabe 8-3

1. Warner (UC) d. Fries 6-2, 6-3

3. Tenney (UC) d. Portrey 6-2, 6-1

5. Cherith Ragland (UC) d. Lipscomb 6-4, 6-3

(singles 2,4,and 6 suspended)