Wittenberg University Athletics - Men's and Women's Tennis 2002-03 News Releases

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2002-03 Wittenberg University
Men's and Women's Tennis Press Releases

All Releases Written by: Ryan Maurer
Director of Sports Information
E-Mail: rmaurer@wittenberg.edu

Men - April 29, 2003

Shane Hutton

The Tiger men’s tennis team saw its season come to a bittersweet conclusion last weekend at Denison in the NCAC Championships. After winning the West Division title for the first time ever, the Tigers reached the NCAC Championship match, only to be denied by nationally ranked Kenyon 4-0. Matches in the tourney are only played until an insurmountable lead is attained - all other matches are abandoned without a conclusion.

The disappointment of losing in the championship match deepened Monday when the Tigers learned they had been denied a berth in the NCAA Division III tournament for the second straight year, despite ranking among the top teams in the loaded Central Region. Thus, Wittenberg concludes its 2003 season with a sparkling 15-5 dual match record and can only now await word on individual qualifiers to the national tournament next month.

In the NCAC Tournament, Wittenberg defeated East Division No. 4 seed Allegheny 4-0 in the quarterfinals and then East Division No. 2 seed Wooster in the semifinals to reach the championship match.

For the regular season, senior No. 1 player Casey Clagett (Steamboat Springs, Colo./Steamboat Springs) was one of five singles players to post a winning record, finishing at 22-9 overall and 4-0 against NCAC West competition. Senior No. 3 player Eric Cusick (Lima, Ohio/Senior) also topped the 20-win plateau, finishing 23-6 overall and 4-0 in the NCAC West. Senior No. 4 player Mike Herzog (Springfield, Ohio/Northwestern) finished 17-10 and 4-0, senior No. 5 player Ben Hodgkiss-Lilly (Cleveland Heights, Ohio/Cleveland Heights) wound up 16-7 and 3-1 and freshman No. 6 player Shane Hutton (Charleston, W.Va./Catholic) rounded things out with a 13-12 mark overall.

All three Tiger doubles teams posted winning records as well, with winning percentages all topping .600.

Next: Season Complete

Women - April 29, 2003

Shannon Oliphant

The Tiger women’s team concluded its 2003 season in almost identical fashion to the way it finished the previous two seasons - with a third place finish in the NCAC Championship Tournament. For the third straight year, Wittenberg placed behind perennial national powers Kenyon and Denison.

It was hardly a disappointing showing for the Tigers, who posted a winning dual match record for a second straight season despite playing a very challenging schedule. Third-seeded Wittenberg capped the season with a quarterfinal win over No. 6 seed Wooster on Friday, a loss to No. 2 seed Kenyon on Saturday and a victory over No. 4 seed Oberlin on Sunday.

Four of the team’s six singles players finished with records, as did two of the three doubles teams. Sophomore No. 1 singles player Emily Figel (Ft. Wayne, Ind./Homestead) finished 12-10 overall and 4-2 against NCAC competition. Senior No. 2 singles player Shannon Oliphant (Columbus, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson) capped her stellar career with records of 19-3 overall and 5-0 in the NCAC. Freshman No. 4 singles player Kristyn Russell (Loveland, Ohio/Mt. Notre Dame) produced a 13-11 overall record and a mark of 7-0 in NCAC action. And junior No. 6 singles player Deana Nowakowski (Uniontown, Ohio/Lake) rounded things out with marks of 13-8 and 6-2.

Next: Season Complete

Men - April 22, 2003

Eric Cusick

The Tiger men’s tennis team accomplished the first of several lofty goals last week as they wrapped up the North Coast Athletic Conference West Division title with a 4-3 home victory over defending champion Denison on Wednesday. That win came a day after the Tigers captured a 5-2 victory over NAIA scholarship program Cedarville on Tuesday, also at home.

Wittenberg wrapped up its traditional dual match season on Monday with a 7-0 victory over visiting Capital. The Tigers finished the regular season with a 13-4 overall record, heading into this weekend’s NCAC Championship, which pits the conference schools in a dual match format tournament over three days at Denison. The Tigers and East Division champ Kenyon are the top seeds in the competition. Kenyon defeated Wittenberg 4-3 early this season.

Four of the Tigers’ six singles players have winning records and five of the six have a winning mark against NCAC West competition. Senior No. 1 player Casey Clagett (Steamboat Springs, Colo./Steamboat Springs) is 21-9 overall and 4-0 in the NCAC West; senior No. 3 player Eric Cusick (Lima, Ohio/Senior) is 20-5 and 4-0; senior No. 4 player Mike Herzog (Springfield, Ohio/Northwestern) is 15-9 and 4-0; and senior No. 5 player Ben Hodgkiss-Lilly (Cleveland Heights, Ohio/Cleveland Heights) is 15-7 and 3-1.

All three doubles teams have winning records with at least 13 victories on the campaign. None of the combinations have lost an NCAC West match.

Next: 4/25-27 NCAC Championships at Denison

Women - April 22, 2003

Emily Figel

The Tiger women’s team played just one match last week, but even that was a big one against a quality opponent as Wittenberg prepares for the annual NCAC Championship Tournament. That competition, which features a dual match format, is slated for this weekend at Denison.

Last Thursday, Wittenberg upended the Ohio Athletic Conference’s top team, the Ohio Northern Polar Bears, by a 7-2 count at the Albright Tennis Complex. The only two losses Wittenberg suffered were in three sets at the No. 5 and 6 singles positions.

Three of the six singles players have winning records and five of them have more wins than losses in NCAC action. Senior No. 2 singles player Shannon Oliphant (Columbus, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson) leads with records of 17-3 overall and 4-0 in the NCAC, sophomore Emily Figel (Ft. Wayne, Ind./Homestead) carries marks of 11-9 and 4-1, and junior No. 6 singles player Deana Nowakowski (Uniontown, Ohio/Lake) checks in with records of 10-7 overall and 3-2 in the NCAC. In addition, freshman No. 4 singles player Kristyn Russell (Loveland, Ohio/Mt. Notre Dame) has a 10-11 overall record but a perfect 5-0 record against NCAC foes.

The Tigers wrap up the regular season with a dual match against Otterbein on Tuesday, and then they head into the NCAC Championships. Wittenberg has finished third behind nationally ranked Kenyon and Denison each of the last two years.

Next: 4/22 at Otterbein, 3:30 p.m.
4/25-27 NCAC Championships at Denison

Men's - April 15, 2003

Casey Clagett

The Tiger men’s tennis team was outstanding over the weekend, sweeping a pair of dual matches at home against NCAC rivals Earlham and Allegheny. The victory over the Quakers improved the Tigers to 3-0 in the NCAC West and set up a showdown with perennial powerhouse and two-time defending division champion Denison, which is also unbeaten, on Wednesday.

Against Earlham, which came in sporting an 11-1 overall record, Wittenberg wasn’t tested, taking all six singles matches and all three doubles matches without dropping a set. Against Allegheny, several of the matches were tighter, but the outcome was the same, a 7-0 sweep.

Five of the Tigers’ six singles players have winning records and all have a winning mark against NCAC West competition. Senior No. 1 player Casey Clagett (Steamboat Springs, Colo./Steamboat Springs) is 20-8 overall and 3-0 in the NCAC West; senior No. 3 player Eric Cusick (Lima, Ohio/Senior) is 18-5 and 3-0; senior No. 4 player Mike Herzog (Springfield, Ohio/Northwestern) is 13-9 and 3-0; senior No. 5 player Ben Hodgkiss-Lilly (Cleveland Heights, Ohio/Cleveland Heights) is 14-6 and 3-0; and freshman No. 6 player Shane Hutton (Charleston, W.V./Catholic) is 11-9 overall and 2-1.

All three doubles teams have winning records with at least 11 victories on the campaign. None of the combinations have lost an NCAC West match.

Next: 4/15 vs. Cedarville, 3:30 p.m.
4/16 vs. Denison, 5 p.m.

Women - April 15, 2003

Kristyn Russell

It was about as successful a week as a team can have. The Tiger women’s team won three North Coast Athletic Conference matches in three days, all on its home courts. The wins moved the Tigers back to .500 overall this season and 4-1 in the NCAC.

The Tigers recorded wins of 7-2 over Ohio Wesleyan, 8-1 over Earlham and 7-2 over Oberlin.

It was another perfect week for No. 2 singles player Shannon Oliphant (Columbus, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson), a senior who is already a two-time second-team All-NCAC selection. Oliphant has the best record on the team and among the NCAC No. 2 singles players at 16-3 mark. She is also one of three Tiger players sporting perfect NCAC records, the others being freshman No. 4 singles player Kristyn Russell (Loveland, Ohio/Mt. Notre Dame) and the doubles tandem of Oliphant and sophomore Emily Figel (Ft. Wayne, Ind./Homestead).

In addition, junior No. 6 singles player Deana Nowakowski (Uniontown, Ohio/Lake) checks in with a record of 10-6. No. 1 singles player Figel has a mark of 10-9 after a 3-0 week and a record of 4-1 in NCAC action.

Next: 4/17 vs. O. Northern, 3:30 p.m.

Men - April 8, 2003

Casey Clagett

The Tiger tennis team just missed the NCAA Division III tournament last year. So this year, the team is playing one of the best schedules in the nation in hopes of improving the odds of making the national tournament for the first time as a team.

Last week, Wittenberg upended Wooster in nonconference action on Thursday 5-2 and then traveled to nationally ranked Washington University on Saturday for a tri-match with the host Bears and Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Wittenberg split those two matches, losing 5-2 to Washington University and winning 5-2 over Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

Four of the Tigers’ six singles players have winning records, led by senior No. 1 player Casey Clagett (Steamboat Springs, Colo./Steamboat Springs), who is 18-8. Other top singles records are owned by senior No. 3 player Eric Cusick (Lima, Ohio/Senior) (16-5), senior No. 4 player Mike Herzog (Springfield, Ohio/Northwestern) (11-9) and senior No. 5 player Ben Hodgkiss-Lilly (Cleveland Heights, Ohio/Cleveland Heights) (12-6). In addition, freshman Shane Hutton (Charleston, W.V./Catholic) has a 9-9 mark at No. 6 singles.

All three doubles teams have winning records with at least nine victories on the campaign.

Next: 4/12 vs. Allegheny, 9:30 a.m.
4/12 vs. Earlham, 3:30 p.m.

Women - April 8, 2003

Shannon Oliphant

The Tiger women’s team continued its extremely difficult 2003 schedule last week, defeating NAIA scholarship program Ohio Dominican 5-4 on Wednesday before losing twice at nationally ranked Washington University on Saturday.

Highlight after highlight continues to be turned in by senior Shannon Oliphant (Columbus, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson), already a two-time second-team All-NCAC selection who is having a tremendous final collegiate season. Oliphant has the best record on the team and among the NCAC No. 2 singles players at 13-3 mark as she swept all three of her matches last week.

In addition, junior No. 6 singles player Deana Nowakowski (Uniontown, Ohio/Lake) checks in with a record of 8-5 and sophomore No. 1 singles player Emily Figel (Ft. Wayne, Ind./Homestead) has a mark of 7-9. Two of the three doubles teams have winning records.

Next: 4/10 vs. O. Wesleyan, 4 p.m.
4/12 vs. Earlham, 9:30 a.m.
4/12 vs. Oberlin, 3:30 p.m.

Men - April 1, 2003

Mike Herzog

The Tiger men’s tennis team is rounding into form following a difficult early-season non-conference schedule that included regionally ranked DePauw, Kenyon and Wheaton, and a second-place finish in the Wabash Invitational to nationally ranked Washington University. That makes this an interesting week as the Tigers travel to Wooster for a nonconference match on Thurdsay and then St. Louis, Mo. for a tri-match with Washington University and Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

Last week was a light one for the Tigers as they upended Wabash on Saturday 7-0. No singles player for Wittenberg allowed more than eight games to a Little Giant opponent.

Four of the Tigers’ six singles players have winning records, led by senior No. 1 player Casey Clagett (Steamboat Springs, Colo./Steamboat Springs), who is 16-7. Other top singles records are owned by senior No. 3 player Eric Cusick (Lima, Ohio/Senior) (13-5), senior No. 4 player Mike Herzog (Springfield, Ohio/Northwestern) (11-6) and senior No. 5 player Ben Hodgkiss-Lilly (Cleveland Heights, Ohio/Cleveland Heights) (10-5). All three doubles teams have winning records with at least seven victories on the campaign.

Next: 4/3 @ Wooster, 3:30 p.m.
4/5 vs. UW-Eau Claire*
4/5 @ Washington Univ.*
* 4/5 matches played at Washington Univ. in St. Louis, Mo. at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Women - April 1, 2003

Deana Nowakowski

The Tiger women’s tennis team ended a long layoff with an 8-1 win at Wooster on Saturday. The Tigers swept the singles courts after winning two of three in the doubles competition.

The best singles record on the team is owned by senior Shannon Oliphant (Columbus, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson), who has a 10-3 mark at No. 2 singles, a mark that also ranks best in the NCAC at the second singles flight.

In addition, junior No. 6 singles player Deana Nowakowski (Uniontown, Ohio/Lake) checks in with a record of 7-4 and sophomore No. 1 singles player Emily Figel (Ft. Wayne, Ind./Homestead) has a mark of 7-6. Two of the three doubles teams have winning records.

The Tigers, who have already played a very difficult nonconference schedule, head back into action this week against NAIA scholarship program Ohio Dominican and matches against national contenders Wisconsin-Eau Claire and Washington University in St. Louis, Mo. on Saturday.

Next: 4/2 vs. O. Dominican, 4 p.m.
4/5 vs. UW-Eau Claire*
4/5 @ Washington Univ.*
* 4/5 matches played at Washington Univ. in St. Louis, Mo. at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Women - March 24, 2003

Shannon Oliphant

The Tiger women’s tennis team has played against some excellent competition in 2003, including nationally ranked Kenyon, DePauw and Rhodes, NCAA Division II Ashland and NCAA Division I Evansville. The result is a slightly misleading 2-5 start to the campaign. The best singles record on the team is owned by senior Shannon Oliphant (Columbus, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson), who has a 9-3 mark at No. 2 singles. In addition, junior No. 6 singles player Deana Nowakowski (Uniontown, Ohio/Lake) checks in with a record of 6-4 and sophomore No. 1 singles player Emily Figel (Ft. Wayne, Ind./Homestead) has a mark of 6-6.

Next: 3/29 vs. Wooster, 1 p.m.

Men - March 24, 2003

Eric Cusick

The Tiger men’s tennis squad is off to another strong start toward what they hope is an NCAA Division III Tournament berth. Playing a very difficult schedule, however, it looks like the Tigers may come up just short of that goal.

Wittenberg, ranked ninth in the Central Region in the latest polls, has absorbed dual match losses to Kenyon, DePauw and Wheaton, three of the teams ranked ahead of the Tigers, and placed second behind top-ranked Washington University at last weekend’s Kerry Seward Invitational at Wabash College. Those results leave Wittenberg with little room for error heading into NCAC West Division action later this week and next month.

Senior No. 1 singles player Casey Clagett (Steamboat Springs, Colo./Steamboat Springs), who won the regional singles championship last fall, has the best record on the team at 15-7. Senior No. 3 singles player Eric Cusick (Lima, Ohio/Senior) checks in at 12-5, senior No. 4 singles player Mike Herzog (Springfield, Ohio/Northwestern) has a record of 10-6 and senior No. 5 singles player Ben Hodgkiss-Lilly (Cleveland Heights, Ohio/Cleveland Heights) carries a mark of 9-5.

Next: 3/29 @ Wabash

March 10, 2003

Emily Figel

Casey Clagett

The Wittenberg men’s and women’s tennis teams head into the 2003 season with high hopes, coming off twin third-place finishes in the NCAC a year ago. Both return most of their starting lineups, including top players Emily Figel (Ft. Wayne, Ind./Homestead) and Casey Clagett (Steamboat Springs, Colo./Steamboat Springs).

Figel, a sophomore, became the first Wittenberg player to advance to the NCAA Division III National Championships since 1983 when she advanced in the singles bracket last spring. Clagett, a senior, was the NCAC Men’s Tennis Player of the Year in 2002 and won the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Midwest Regional Singles Championship last fall before placing eighth in the nation, one of the highest finishes ever for a Tiger tennis player, male or female.

Joining Figel on the women’s side will be fellow returning starters Shannon Oliphant (Columbus, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson), a senior an All-NCAC selection in each of her first three seasons and the team’s No. 2 singles player a year ago, and sophomore Sarah Fassler (Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Ursula), the team’s No. 3 singles player in 2002.

Other returning letterwinners include junior Valerie Allen (Cincinnati, Ohio/Colerain), sophomore Ellie Hazelbaker (Cincinnati, Ohio/Roger Bacon), junior Megan Maher (Chagrin Falls, Ohio/Kenston) and junior Deana Nowakowski (Uniontown, Ohio/Lake). Several freshmen have made inroads into the rotation as well, led by Kristyn Russell (Loveland, Ohio/Mt. Notre Dame).

On the men’s side, Clagett is joined in the starting lineup again by junior Duby Lakos (Lynchburg, Va./Heritage) and seniors Eric Cusick (Lima, Ohio/Senior), Mike Herzog (Springfield, Ohio/Northwestern) and Ben Hodgkiss-Lilly (Cleveland Heights, Ohio/Cleveland Heights). Senior Josh Conley (Springfield, Ohio/Northwestern), sophomore Ben Burkam (Delaware, Ohio/Hayes) and freshman Shane Hutton (Charleston, W.Va./Catholic) are among the top players in a crowded mix for the other starting position.

Next: 3/10-15 Spring Break Trip
five matches each in Hilton Head, S.C.

October 8, 2002

Casey Clagett

Shannon Oliphant

For the third straight year, the Wittenberg women’s tennis program hosted the Omni Hotels/Intercollege Tennis Association Women’s Division III Central Region Championship at the Albright Tennis Complex. Unlike last year, however, the home court advantage didn’t carry any of the Tiger players through to the championship match.

Third-seeded Emily Figel (Ft. Wayne, Ind./Homestead), a sophomore and the team’s No. 1 player who is coming off a 19-5 campaign as a freshman, reached the round of 16 before losing in straight sets to the tourney’s 11th seeded player. Senior Shannon Oliphant (Columbus, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson), the team’s No. 2 singles player and the competition’s No. 9 seed, went one step further, reaching the quarterfinals. Last year, Figel advanced all the way to the championship match.

The fall season is now mostly completed for the women’s team, and the men are into winter workouts as well - except for senior No. 1 singles player Casey Clagett (Steamboat Springs, Colo./Steamboat Springs). He became the first Tiger player, male or female, to win the fall regional tourney. 2002 Omni Hotels/Intercollegiate Tennis Association Men’s Division III Central Region Singles Championship at DePauw University.

As a result, he advanced to the Omni Hotels/ITA National Small College Championship Tournament on Oct. 17-20. The event is hosted by H.E.B. Tennis Center in Corpus Christi, Texas.

October 1, 2002

Casey Clagett

Emily Figel

The 2002-03 tennis season got off to a rousing official start last weekend as the men’s team traveled to Greencastle, Ind. for the 2002 Omni Hotels/Intercollegiate Tennis Association Men’s Division III Central Region Singles Championship at DePauw University. Both the Wittenberg men and women had hosted flighted tournaments at mostly Division I competition in previous weekends, but the regional tourney annually kicks things off for Division III teams.

And what a kick-off it wound up being. Senior Casey Clagett (Steamboat Springs, Colo./Steamboat Springs), a quarterfinalist at the event each of the last two years, emerged as the singles champion, becoming the first Tiger player, male of female, to win the crown. To do it, Clagett, the No. 2 seed in the competition after last year’s 23-4 singles record, had to win six matches in three days, including three straight three-setters in the quarterfinals, semifinals and finals.

Clagett capped off his weekend by winning the singles in dramatic fashion, 75, 4-6, 6-2 over top-seeded Ben Crandell of Principia. As a result, he advanced to the Omni Hotels/ITA National Small College Championship Tournament on Oct. 17-20. The event is hosted by H.E.B. Tennis Center in Corpus Christi, Texas.

In addition to Clagett, several other Tigers turned in fine performances. Seniors Eric Cusick (Lima, Ohio/Senior) and Mike Herzog (Springfield, Ohio/Northwestern) each won two singles matches, and Herzog teamed with senior Ben Hodgkiss-Lilly (Cleveland Heights, Ohio/Cleveland Heights) to win two doubles matches before getting bounced in the quarterfinals by the eventual champions from Washington University.

The women’s tournament is scheduled for Oct. 5-7 at Wittenberg’s Albright Tennis Courts. Last year, Tiger freshman Emily Figel (Ft. Wayne, Ind./Homestead) worked her way through to the championship match. She likely will be one of the top seeds in this year’s event after finishing 19-5 overall a year ago and making the NCAA Division III championship tournament in the spring.

Next: Women’s ITA Regional Tourn. at Wittenberg 10/5-7