Gambier, Ohio- Coming off a 4-1 semifinal victory over John Carroll, the Denison women's tennis team faced top-seeded Kenyon College for the fourth year in a row in the NCAC finals match. Earlier this season, the Owls served the Big Red its only conference loss of the regular season, and held off Denison once again in the championship match. Kenyon prevailed over Denison 5-0 to earn the North Coast Athletic Conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. The Big Red wrapped its season with an overall record of 19-5, while the Owls improved to 18-5.
#14 Kenyon 5, #21 Denison 0
Doubles:
Kenyon picked up some quick points in the opening minutes of double play, stretching their match lead to 4-1 on courts one and two before Denison began to rally back. Unfortunately for the Big Red, the Owls' lead on courts one and two proved to be too much to come back from. Kenyon picked up its first doubles win on court two after the Owls defeated Denison's Dasha Chistyakova and Caitlin Van Winkle 6-3. Kenyon would secure the doubles point on court one, after Peyton Oda and Rafaella Ramos fell 6-2.
1. E. Lazaridou/ H. Nouaime (KENW) def. Peyton Oda/ Rafaella Ramos (DENW) 6-2
2. K Komlodi / S. Amado Aguad (KENW) def. Dasha Chistyakova/ Caitlin Van Winkle (DENW) 6-3
3. C. Hudson/ B. Kelly (KENW) vs. Maia Nowicki/ Maddie Larsen (DENW) 4-3 (unfinished)
Singles:
Shifting to singles, the Owls maintained momentum and jumped to a 2-0 lead after about an hour. After a late rally on court four, Dasha Chistyakova was defeated 6-2, 6-3. Soon after, Kenyon claimed its third singles victory on court three as Rafaella Ramos lost 6-1, 6-2.
Though the chances of a comeback were dwindling, there were some bright spots between the final two losses. On court two, Caitlin Van Winkle won her first set 6-2 before falling 3-6 in set two; her match was called when Kenyon clinched the final point. On court six, first-year Maddie Larsen also won her first set 6-3 and led 3-2 before her match was called.
Kenyon took the final two victories on courts five and one. Maia Nowicki battled Clare Hudson but fell 6-1, 6-2, just before Peyton Oda was defeated by Eleni Lazzaridou 6-3, 6-2 on court one.
1. Eleni Lazaridou (KENW) def. Peyton Oda (DENW) 6-3, 6-2
2. Caitlin Van Winkle (DENW) vs. Kiara Komlodi (KENW) 6-2, 3-6 (unfinished)
3. Hana Nouaime (KENW) def. Rafaella Ramos (DENW) 6-1, 6-2
4. Shadia Amado Aguad (KENW) def. Dasha Chistyakova (DENW) 6-2, 6-3
5. Clare Hudson (KENW) def. Maia Nowicki (DENW) 6-1, 6-2
6. Maddie Larsen (DENW) vs. Elizabeth Ackermann (KENW) 6-2, 3-2 (unfinished)
Season Highlights:
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Denison's 19 victories are the most wins in a season since their 2007 season, when the team went 22-4.
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Senior Peyton Oda wrapped her career as a Big Red with 131 combined career wins.
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This is the seniors' fourth consecutive season to make it to the NCAC Finals match.
Match Notes:
No. 21 Denison: 19-5
No. 14 Kenyon: 18-5
Doubles Order: 2,1
Singles Order: 4,3,5,1
