PHOTO DAY GALLERY

WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The Otterbein women's tennis team finished its non-traditional fall campaign this past weekend at the ITA Central Regionals, turning in a strong showing that will hopefully generate momentum over to the spring.

The Cardinals initially began the month with a trio of fairly-comfortable dual victories against Mount Vernon Nazarene (7-0), Wooster (6-3) and Ohio Wesleyan (8-1). Otterbein had to work through some competitive moments up north vs. the Fighting Scots, as two doubles matches finished 8-6 and a pair of singles matches went to three sets.

Nevertheless, the group remain unscathed before taking a significant jump in competition at the nearby Denison Invitational… gaining valuable experience against the likes of Centre, Case Western Reserve and the Big Red. Most notably, the doubles tandem of sophomore Erin Storrer and freshman Emma Henson knocked off the standout CWRU duo of Nina Hoog/Radha Patel after a 7-3 breaker.

After a head-to-head matchup with Grove City was unfortunately postponed, Otterbein (represented by Storrer, Henson and freshman Lillia Walter) traveled to Kalamazoo College for the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's regional bracket.

Storrer and Henson won their first doubles match (8-5) before admirably bowing out to the eventual championship team of Chicago's Sylwia Mikos and Shianna Guo by an 8-3 decision.

Walter and Storrer, both playing in their first ITA's, each hit the win column individually. Walter blanked Katie Valade (Albion) with straight 6-0, 6-0 counts before falling in the second round.

It was Storrer, however, that delivered a standout showing for the Cardinals. The reigning OAC Player of the Year found a groove early in shutting out Greenville's Addison Brannon, and then eliminated Kaeli Smashey (North Central) by rugged scores of 7-5, 6-4. She became the first Otterbein player to make the Round of 16 since former standout Julie Stroyne did back in 2013.

That set the stage for a Super Saturday, as Storrer advanced further than any player in program history had before. She encountered early adversity, but came from behind to upset returning All-American Sydney Ciancola with a line of 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.

"We have always gone, but this was the first time where I feel like we truly competed with the best," head coach Tyler Stephen said proudly. "Otterbein has won matches there, but Erin getting deep into that tournament was something new…

The journey came to a close in the quarterfinals against fourth-seeded (and eventual finalist) Miranda Yuan, a New Zealander representing powerhouse Chicago. Storrer didn't go quietly, claiming the middle set before running out of gas on counts of 6-0, 5-7, 6-3.

"Each of them really held their own," Stephen continued regarding his trio. "We weren't just there… but there with a presence. It was possibly the biggest weekend for our program during my time coaching. I'm not sure the girls quite realize it yet, but it was a special step."

Otterbein will now settle into the offseason, looking to remain sharp over the winter months until getting back on the playing surface come February. The youthful roster currently features five freshmen, three sophomore and two seniors in Madi Mueller and Rachelle Moses.

The spring schedule is still being finalized, but the Cardinals will have plenty of opportunities to continue making a name for themselves.

"There is a different mindset coming into this year," Stephen added. "We are scheduling tougher for a few different seasons… most notably exposure and experience. It's more important (right now) to learn some things about ourselves than just rack up comfortable wins. You'll see us play some tougher teams on spring break and around the region coming up. We will use everything as a measuring stick and keep pushing forward."

The Cards made the Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament championship match last year before coming up just short to John Carroll (5-3). Stay tuned to otterbeincardinals.com and all of our social media outlets for continued coverage as the traditional spring season draws nearer.