2005 Women’s Tennis Review
Clarion’s Women’s Tennis Finishes A Successful Season 10-4
After a much anticipated season, the 2005 Clarion Women’s Tennis team ended a successful season with a 10-4 overall record and a 1-3 mark in the PSAC-West under veteran head coach Lori Sabatose.
“Overall the season went really well,” stated Sabatose. “We have a young group of players that are just full of talent.”
Clarion started the season with a strong 6-1 dual record in the Fall 2004 campaign. Wins came against St. Vincent (8-1), Grove City (5-4), West Chester (6-0), East Stroudsburg (6-3), Juniata (9-0) and Westminster (9-0), with the only loss coming at Millersville (3-6).
The Golden Eagles started the Spring 2005 season with a 4-0 start. After an opening 9-0 win against Geneva, the Eagles won the PSAC-West opener against Shippensburg by a 6-3 margin. Two additional wins came against Seton Hill (5-4) and Allegheny (7-2) to run the season record to 10-1. Clarion played its rugged PSAC-West opponents tough, but lost consecutive matches to IUP (3-6), Slippery Rock (4-5) and California (3-6).
“Us beating Shippensburg 5-4 was a huge moral boost for the team. However we lost our momentum with the 6-3 loss to IUP,” said Sabatose. “In the losses to Slippery Rock and Cal, both matches went really well but we just couldn’t pull out the win. We lost the number 3 and 4 matches to California by one break of a serve,” offered Sabatose. “We were right in there with the top teams in the conference but we just fell short.”
Cori Rombach (Fr. Prattsburgh, N.Y.) finished with an overall singles record of 9-6 at the #1 position. “Cori’s record is great for a freshman, she has some things to work on over the summer to make her an even better player next year,” said Sabatose. Cori was 5-6 in doubles and ranked #10 for the region for the #1 doubles position with partner Emily Berry. At the PSAC Individual Championships Cori won her first match against Jess Foltin of West Chester with a score of 6-0, 6-0 and lost her second match to the #1 seed Ashley Michaux of Slippery Rock 6-4, 6-1. “We really thought she was going to pull out a win. No one all season had challenged Michaux as much as Cori did in that match,” said Sabatose.
Lisa Baumgartner (Fr. West Middlesex) and Amy Robertson (Fr. York) were named this year’s Most Improved Players. Both played at #3 doubles and together posted a 5-0 doubles mark. Lisa finished the season with a singles record of 13-1 at the number 4, 5, and 6 single positions and a doubles mark of 7-2. “In her freshman season she has an over all record of 177-24 single game record and 47-22 double game record, which for a freshman is amazing,” said Sabatose.
Amy Robertson finished the season with an 8-0 overall record at #3 doubles, “Amy really excelled throughout the season and proved it during the matches and she pushed her teammates,” said Sabatose.
Emily Berry (Fr. Struthers, Ohio – Struthers) finished with an overall record of 13-3 at #5 and 6 singles and also played in the PSAC individual championship this Spring. She won her first match over Priya Pachkawde by default. She then lost her second match to the #2 seed Yvonne Niederbracht of IUP 6-0, 6-0. “This was one of her better matches she’s played this year,” said Sabatose. Berry was 7-8 overall at #1 doubles.
Kristen Jack (So. Lower Burrell – Burrell) finished the season with an overall record of 8-5 at # 3 singles. “With more consistent ground strokes and a sharp volley she will be a threat to be reckoned with,” said Sabatose. Jack also was 9-5 at #2 doubles with Ashley Rhodes.
Rhodes (Jr. Altoona), a junior, had a solid season playing #2 singles and #2 doubles with Jack. In singles play she sported a 4-9 record, while teaming with Jack to go 9-5 at #2 doubles.
Amanda Brothers (Jr. Moon Twp.) played mostly #4 singles and #3 doubles. She put together a very solid 8-5 overall singles record and a perfect 8-0 doubles record this season.
With eight players returning in the Fall and a new Spring Break trip added to the 2006 Spring schedule, the Eagles expect to even better in the coming season. “Overall the season was great but just a little disappointing with the loss of the last two dual meets. This was one of my best seasons ever as a head coach at Clarion and now we have raised our expectations for the next year, with such a talented group of athletes returning,” said Sabatose.
CLARION NOTES: Sabatose finished her fifth year as Clarion’s head coach… the 2004 team was 10-10 overall, while the 2003 team was 9-6 overall and 5th at the PSAC’s… She has been the head coach at Clarion from 2003-2005, and in 1999 and 2000. She was named the 2004 USTA Allegheny Mountain District College “Coach of the Year”.
By: Erin Dugan