PHOTO GALLERY

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – It was a tough draw for the Otterbein women's tennis team in the first round of the NCAA Division III Championships, as the Cardinals unfortunately dropped a 5-0 decision to nationally-ranked Kenyon College Thursday afternoon in the regional opener.

The Cardinals, making their second appearance in as many years, fell behind 3-0 after doubles and just couldn't make up ground with their backs against the wall to begin singles play. As a result, the team ends another memorable spring campaign 15-7 overall after sweeping through the Ohio Athletic Conference.

Kenyon, ranked No. 32 in the latest ITA national poll, improves to a 19-4 record this year and will square up with New York University in Friday's second round. The Owls recently won the NCAC title after taking down Denison.

The Cardinal tandem of Julia Gillen and Rachelle Moses had the closes match in the doubles section, trailing 6-3 midway through before the Kenyon duo won the next two games for a third point. Prior to that, Erin Storrer/Olivia Eckels and Lillia Walter/Aubrey McMahon were also topped.

Storrer (1) and Walter (2) tried generating momentum for Otterbein atop the singles lineup, each controlling their first sets to take early leads. Walter flew out to a 4-1 lead before settling up 6-3, while Storrer ended up notching a 6-4 opening set after trading games with Eleni Lazaridou.

Both started trading swings again in their second sets before other matches went final, clinching enough points for the Owls.

North Central blanked Hope 5-0 in the first matchup of the day, advancing to play host Carnegie Mellon.

Otterbein is scheduled to return most everyone from a small cohesive lineup this season, and will certainly look to keep the program trending upward heading into 2023-24.