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CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Otterbein women's tennis team encountered a strong mix of competition and results over the weekend, winning just one match collectively but gaining important experience for the upcoming semester.

The Cardinals (now 5-2) remained undefeated to begin the stretch, blanking Penn State Behrend inside the Clements Recreation Center across Saturday afternoon by a 9-0 tally.

They won a pair of matches by default, both doubles matches comfortably, and every singles contest in straight sets. Cassady Shough and Olivia Eckels both won 6-0, 6-0 down the lineup.

The engine on the school vans, along with the strength of opponents, revved up mightily on Sunday as Otterbein traveled to play Oberlin and Case Western Reserve around the Northeast Ohio area…

"We strategically scheduled this year because we have the team to do it," head coach Tyler Stephen said. "We aren't necessarily trying to win 20-plus matches, but instead prepare ourselves for conference play."

A four-hour plus slugfest against the Yeomen in Stow kickstarted the day. Oberlin held a 2-1 lead after doubles action with all three courts remaining fairly tight.

Erin Storrer and Emma Henson secured a point for the Cards by winning 8-5 at the top spot. Lillia Walter and Madi Mueller lost 8-4, while Julia Gillin and Rachelle Moses settled just shot on an 8-5 decision.

Singles play would get wild on a few courts. Storrer (6-4, 6-3) won in straight sets on the top level while Oberlin did the same at positions four, five and six.

Henson found herself locked in a back-and-forth shown on the third line, flying back to win the second set in extra points before unfortunately falling 12-10 in an ensuing tiebreak. Walter encountered a similar theme just above, falling 6-4 in the first but responding with a 7-5 triumph to stay alive. She then came up shy in a 10-6 winner-take-all breaker.

After that marathon match, the Cardinals were forced to pick themselves up and head over to play nationally-ranked Case Western Reserve. The Spartans won 9-0, working to slip past on all three doubles courts and then winning all singles in straight sets.

Storrer faced a stuff test with CWRU standout Hannah Kassaie at No. 1 while Henson squared off with another ranked challenger in Savannah Bright.

"It doesn't get any tougher than a four-hour grind followed by playing one of the best teams in the country an hour later," Stephen added.

Otterbein will keep building over the next two weeks before getting back to varsity action in Florida, where the team heads for spring break March 6-11. The Cards are slated to play six matches in Orlando.