HCAC Women's Tennis AQ on the Line in Indianapolis
October 15, 2008
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - The 2008 women's tennis season will come to a close this weekend, as the HCAC Tennis Championships will be held this Thursday and Friday in Indianapolis . This year's tournament will be hosted by Hanover College and held at the West Indy Racquet Club in Indianapolis .
Hanover College claimed the school's fourth HCAC championship and first title since 2001 and will look to earn the conference's automatic qualifier for the NCAA tournament this coming spring by taking the tournament title.
The Panthers (8-0 HCAC) have been led by Katie Fleschner (Terre Haute, Ind./North) at the No. 1 singles and doubles position this fall, posting a 11-5 overall conference record. Teaming up with Fleschner at the No. 1 doubles position has been senior Ali Gantz (Greenwood , Ind. /H.S.) . Gantz has racked up a 13-3 conference record, including a perfect 8-0 at No. 2 singles.
Hanover had two flight championships in last weekend's HCAC Invitational. Gantz earned the title at No. 2 singles, while Alyssa Gullett (Lexington , Ky. / Christian Academy ) claimed the No. 4 singles championship.
Franklin College (7-1 HCAC) earned the conference's second seed this fall with their only conference loss being a 7-2 decision to Hanover . The Grizzlies will meet Transylvania (5-3 HCAC) in the semi-finals. Franklin defeated the Pioneers 5-4 on October 10.
Transylvania's Kelsey Fulkerson (Lexington , Ky. / Dunbar ) was named the conference's Freshman of the Year this season, posting a 13-3 conference record at No. 1 singles and doubles. Transy's three conference losses this season came against Hanover , Franklin , and Rose-Hulman.
Rose-Hulman's Sam Danesis (Akron , Ohio / Revere ) won the No. 1 singles championship at the HCAC Invitational and was also named the conference's Most Valuable Player for the third straight season. Danesis teamed with Megan Chann (Columbia , Mo. / Rock Bridge ) to earn the title at No. 1 doubles as well. Danesis finished 15-1 in conference play this fall. The Engineers suffered losses to Hanover , Franklin , and Manchester this season.
Manchester College (5-3 HCAC) dropped decisions to Hanover , Franklin , and Transylvania during the regular season. The Spartans' streak of conference championships ended at six straight with Hanover claiming the crown this fall. The black and gold had three flight championships at singles and two at doubles in last weekend's HCAC Invitational. Christa Hunter (New Haven, Ind./H.S.) earned the title at No. 3 singles, Brittany Oliver (Lafayette, Ind./Jefferson) claimed the No. 5 singles championships, and Danielle Walker (Columbia City, Ind./H.S.) was tops at No. 6. Hunter and Walker teamed to earn the title at No. 2 doubles, while April Erxleben (Decatur , Ind. /Bellmont) teamed with Nikki Ferguson (Ft. Wayne , Ind. /Snider) to claim the championship at No. 3 doubles.
Action will get underway Thursday evening at 7:00 PM with the semi finals to be played at 9:00 AM Friday morning. The championship match will be held around 1:00 PM Friday afternoon.