Granville, Ohio-Â The DePauw women's tennis team dropped its last regular-season match, 8-1, to No. 26 Denison University. The Tigers moved to 11-8 for the season and 3-3 in North Coast Athletic Conference play, while the Big Red improved to 14-8 overall and 5-1 in conference play.
In doubles play, all three courts fell 8-6. On court one, Denison's Dasha Chistyakova and Caroline Lopez defeated Ellen Gardner and Kassie Green. The Big Red's Maia Nowicki and Peyton Oda beat Valerie Doherty and Kat Wilder on court two, and completing the doubles sweep for Denison were Elizabeth Hoo and Caroline Kittle, who defeated Katie King and Alex Preston on court three.
In singles play the Tigers did not go down quickly. Though Denison extended its lead to four after Caroline Kittle beat Valerie Doherty 6-0, 6-2 on court three, DePauw's Kassie Green recorded the Tigers' lone win after beating Dasha Chistyakova 6-3, 6-1 on court two. Unfortunately for DePauw, Denison stayed laser-focused and, on court four, clinched the match after Caroline Lopez defeated Katie King 6-4, 6-4.Â
On court one, the Big Red's Peyton Oda beat Ellen Gardner 6-4, 6-4, and Denison's Anna Leach defeated Bella DeNardo 7-6 (7-4), 6-4 on court six. Big Red's final victory of the day came on court five after Elizabeth Hoo held off a comeback by Kat Wilder, defeating Wilder 7-5, 2-6, 1-0 (10-3).
This weekend's matches wrapped up regular season play for the Tigers, with DePauw in fourth place heading into the NCAC Tennis Tournament. The Tigers will return to Granville, Ohio, for the conference tournament on Friday, May 3.Â
