Wittenberg Results
Kenyon Invite Results

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - The Otterbein University women's tennis team concluded its fall season on Tuesday evening with a 5-4 win over Wittenberg, improving to 1-1 overall as the team heads into preparations for the spring season.

Otterbein began its match against Wittenberg by winning two of the three doubles matches, including senior Rylie Markle and junior Sophia Navas-Davis match in first doubles over the Berg's Carli Milano and Sarah Frisch (8-4).

Sophomore Sophie Allen and freshman Marriella Briones also proved victorious in third doubles over Alivia Livesay and Hannah Bowman (8-4). The Cards' top-three singles players fell before the rest of the field picked up victories to secure the match.

Navas-Davis topped Livesay in straight sets in fourth singles (6-2, 7-6), while Briones, who assumed the fifth spot, needed three sets to outlast Frisch (6-4, 6-2, 6-0). Freshman Megan Stuteville posted the other Cardinal victory in sixth singles, defeating Nora Jacobson (6-1, 6-1).

The Cardinals opened the fall portion of their schedule at the Oberlin Tournament on Sept. 9-10, where the team saw its newcomers make an impact in both singles and doubles competition. Otterbein then traveled to Cedarville last Thursday where the team suffered a narrow 5-4 loss to the Yellow Jackets.

Otterbein also competed at the Kenyon Invitational this past weekend, as freshmen Megan Stuteville and Marriella Briones squared off in the third-place game of Group C singles, with Briones proving victorious in three sets (2-6, 6-2, 7-6).

Doubles play also featured success for the Cards, as three pairs won at least one match including Briones and classmate Makayla Sutter advancing to the third-place game in Group B before falling to Ohio Wesleyan's Lauren Corcoran and Cat Murphy (8-6).

Head coach Pat Anderson, who is now just three wins shy of the 250-mark for her career, noted how the freshmen class impressed in their fall debut.

"Our freshman showed a lot of promise," Anderson said. "I am excited to see this team come conference play." 

The Cardinals will resume play on Feb. 11 at Wooster followed by the team's first home match of the season against Ohio Wesleyan a week later. Otterbein then embarks on its annual Spring Break Trip to Orlando, Fla. where the team will face Augustana (Ill.) on Feb. 26, followed by St. Mary (N.D.) on March 1.