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Storm Take Third at NEACs
July 18, 2008
The women’s tennis team, who won the North eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) regular season, finished third at the NEAC team championships on Friday. The following day, in the individual portion of the NEAC championships, four different players were named to the All-NEAC teams for their performances. Penn State-Berks defeated Wells College to win the team championship, but since the Nittany Lions are provisional, Wells will accept the AQ to the NCAA Tournament.
Keuka, the No. 1 seed, had to face the No. 4 seeded Express of Wells College in the first match of the team championships. Wells was the only NEAC to beat Keuka during the regular season. Unfortunately for the Storm, the Express would pull off the upset, winning 5-2. Keuka won No. 2 and 3 singles but lost No. 1 & 4 while also dropping all three doubles matches. Rookie Beth Kushner (Angola, N.Y./Elden) won her singles match (6-1, 7-6 [7-2]) in flight No. 2 while sophomore Alison Liberty (South Berwick, ME/Marshwood) won her flight No. 3 singles match (7-5, 6-2).
Keuka then squared off against No. 3 Keystone College in the consolation match. The Storm rebounded to win all three singles matches that finished as well as two of the three doubles matches to win 5-1. Freshman Megan McGowan (Batavia, N.Y./Batavia) won No. 1 singles (6-2, 7-6, [8-6]). Kushner won flight No. 2 easily (6-2, 6-1) while sophomore Anna Peluso (Ontario, N.Y./Greene) won flight No. 5 singles (6-2, 6-2). McGowan and Liberty teamed up to win No. 1 doubles (8-1) while Kushner and junior Katie Bremer (East Aurora, N.Y./East Aurora) won No. 2 doubles (8-1).
The next day at the individual championships, McGowan, who was seeded No. 2 in the first flight of singles, defeated her opponent from Keystone College (6-4, 7-6, [7-5]) to reach the championship match. McGowan’s opponent from Baptist Bible College went on to win (6-3, 6-1) earning McGowan All-NEAC second team honors.
Kushner, the No. 1 seed in flight No. 2, rolled to two wins and a spot on the All-NEAC first team. She won her first match against Penn State-Harrisburg (6-1, 6-3) and then defeated her Penn State-Berks opponent (6-2, 6-4) in the championship match.
Liberty, the No. 4 seed in the third flight, barely lost her first match to the top seed from Wells (1-6, 6-4, 6-3) before rebounding to win (7-5, 6-0) against Penn State-Berks in the consolation match. Liberty was named to All-NEAC honorable mention team.
Sophomore Jennifer Heinrich (Hilton, N.Y./Hilton) lost her first match in flight No. 5 to Wells (4-6, 6-0, 6-2). The No. 2 seed then came back to narrowly beat her opponent from Keystone (6-1, 7-6 [7-3]) to earn a spot on the All-NEAC honorable mention team.
Senior Kay McGinty (Voorheesville, N.Y./C. A. Bouton) lost both of her matches in flight No. 6. Falling (6-3, 6-4) to Penn State-Berks and (6-1, 6-7 [1-7], 6-4) to Keystone.
In doubles, the duo of McGowan and Liberty teamed up to win both of its matches and take home first place and a spot on the All-NEAC first team. The top seed, McGowan and Liberty won (8-6) against Keystone and then (8-6) against Penn State-Berks in the championship.
Heinrich and Peluso lost both of their matches in flight No. 3 doubles. Falling (8-4) to Penn State-Berks and (8-6) to Wells College.
