Ohio Wesleyan University | Battling Bishop Athletics

2008-09 Season Preview

[ Pam Quigney ] With 5 of her top 7 singles players from last season gone, at first glance it may appear to be a long road ahead for Ohio Wesleyan women's tennis coach Michelle Parish. But promising returnees and another strong incoming class have Parish hopeful that the Battling Bishops can reload and be back in contention for the North Coast Athletic Conference championship.

Ohio Wesleyan won 3 of its last 4 regular-season matches, then bounced back from a quarterfinal loss in the 2008 NCAC tournament to win its last 2 matches and finish fifth in the final standings.

Sophomore Pam Quigney (Mentor) finished the 2007-08 season with a team-best record of 10-3, including a 6-1 record at No. 5 singles.

Junior Mollie Campbell (Burlington, Vt.) compiled a 5-11 overall record, including a mark of 5-10 at No. 4 singles.

Senior Kaitlin Moran (Chatham, N.J.) was 3-9 overall, playing at both No. 5 and No. 6 singles, in her first season of Ohio Wesleyan tennis.

Also back are sophomores Jessica Miller (Dayton/Centerville) and Kate O'Keefe (Westport, Conn./Stoneleigh-Burnham (Mass.)), each of whom saw limited action at No. 6 singles last season; and senior Melissa Demarest (Amherst, N.H./Souhegan), another newcomer last year who looks for an increased role this season.

A second consecutive talented group of newcomers will provide keen competition for spots in the Bishop ladder.

Freshman Becky Simon (Hilliard/Darby) was a conference Player of the Year selection in high school, while freshman Sara Ash (Mendham, N.J./Gill St. Bernard's) helped her high school team win a state championship. Freshman Emily Kiourtsis (Pickerington/North) and freshman Amber Schneider (Shelburne, Vt./Rice) each helped her high school team win a conference title, and freshman Amy Braun (Bexley) and freshman Mackenzie Conway (Marion/Pleasant) also are in the picture.

Quigney was part of Ohio Wesleyan's most successful doubles team last year, going 8-2 at No. 3 doubles. Moran played in 11 matches with 2 different partners at No. 3 doubles.

Ohio Wesleyan’s schedule begins on Sept. 23 at Wilmington and continues with the ITA regional tournament before the fall schedule concludes with a match at Ohio Dominican. The spring schedule opens on Feb. 16 at Otterbein. Matchups with former national champion Kenyon, defending NCAC champion Denison and traditional league powers Wittenberg and Oberlin highlight the NCAC schedule, and the season is capped by the NCAC tournament on April 24-26.

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