Rombach Named 1st team PSAC-West

Clarion Posts 8-3 Spring Record in 2007

 

            Clarion junior Corin Rombach (Jr., Prattsburgh, NY) was named recently to the first team PSAC-West tennis team as voted by the coaches of the PSAC.  Rombach helped the Golden Eagles tennis team to a 13-6 combined fall and spring record, an 8-3 spring record, a 2-2 PSAC-West mark, and was 5-3 at #1 singles during the spring season.  Overall, Rombach posted a 10-9 record during both the fall and spring seasons.  This is Rombach’s second selection to the West singles team (2005), and was named in 2006 to the first team doubles combination with Kristen Jack.

            “We’re very happy for Corin being named to the PSAC-West team,” said Eagle head coach Lori Sabatose. “She is very deserving of this honor.”

EAGLES START 2007 SPRING SEASON AT HILTON HEAD

            Clarion started the 2007 Spring campaign by traveling to Hilton Head, South Carolina for four matches in five days and was able to win three out of four.  In the first match of the trip, Clarion defeated Nebraska-Wesleyan 5-4.  Clarion got two big wins in #1 (Corin Rombach & Kristen Jack) (Sr., Lower Burrell) and #2 Lisa Baumgartner (Jr., West Middlesex) & Amy Robertson (Jr., York) doubles and #1 (Rombach) and #2 (Baumgartner) singles but the game clincher came from Megan Robertson (Jr., York) who defeated Becca Brown 6-0, 6-1 at #5 singles.  In the second match, Clarion defeated St. Michaels 7-2, where Clarion was able to sweep all doubles matches and picked up wins in #1, and #3-#5 singles.  Clarion then dropped a tough 5-4 decision to Tiffin but came back with a big 7-2 win over Macalester College.  Against Macalester, Clarion was able to sweep all doubles matches, while also picking up singles wins from Rombach, Baumgartner, #4 Amy Robertson and #5 Megan Robertson.

            “We had an awesome spring trip to Hilton Head” Sabatose stated. “We were able to fine tune our mechanics very well, as well as, start the season 3-1.”

            Clarion returned back home to find five of the eight matches remaining postponed or cancelled by rain.  Clarion had to play two matches indoors at racket clubs to just get the matches in.  Clarion started out their home matches at Campbell courts by posting a 9-0 win over Geneva, while defeating St. Vincent in a close 5-4 match.  In the St. Vincent match, Clarion was paced by two wins in doubles at #2 and Kassie Leuschel (Jr., St. Mary’s) and Brittany Bovalino (Fr., Aliquippa) at #3.  Clarion then went on to win #3, 4, and 6 singles to clinch the win.

            Clarion began its PSAC-West conference campaign on April 3rd when they traveled to take on #6 ranked California.  Clarion dropped the match by a score of 9-0.  Clarion then traveled to Slippery Rock and dropped an 8-1 decision to the Rock.  Picking up Clarion’s lone win was Lisa Baumgartner and Amy Robertson at #2 doubles.  Clarion was able to come back strong in conference play by winning their final two matches.  Clarion defeated Shippensburg 9-0 and IUP 7-2.  After the Allegheny match was cancelled for the year, Clarion finished the season with an 8-1 win over Seton Hill on Senior Day.

            “In my years as head coach, this was the best spring season that I have ever been a part of by record of wins,” Sabatose said. “We definitely had an unbelievable spring season.”

            Clarion will have to say good-bye to three seniors: Kristen Jack, Jessica Hogue (Sr., Hermitage), and Nicole Nedley (Sr., Greensburg).  Jack finished her career with a singles mark of 30-37 and a doubles mark of 40-28.  Nicole Nedley finished her collegiate career with a 4-12 singles record and a 5-8 doubles mark.

            “These players will be hard to replace because they brought so much to the team.” Sabatose said. “They were all a valuable part to our team in one way or another and I know we will miss them all very much.”

            “My goal is for our tennis program to come back stronger than ever in the fall and to make a run for a spot in the NCAA East Regionals in 2008.”

            NOTES: Sabatose announced that Devin Rombach (Corin’s sister), has decided to transfer to Clarion to play tennis starting in the Fall… Another freshman recruit signed by Sabatose is Ashleigh Hinds of Montrose High … Clarion finished the fall season with a 5-3 mark.  The Tennis team was was also the recipient of the first ever Carlson Cup…The cup is given to the team with the best overall QPA at Clarion…  Sabatose was selected to coach the USA junior national team in Rome, Italy on July 3rd-11th.  Sabatose will be co-coaching the men’s and women’s team.   Lisa Baumgartner received the western region sportsmanship award given by International Tennis Association. During the 2006-2007 fall and spring seasons, Rombach posted a 10-9 singles record and an 11-6 doubles record with Kristen Jack. She now has an overall mark of 27-24 in singles and 23-22 in doubles.  Lisa Baumgartner posted a 12-9 singles record and an 18-4 doubles mark with Amy Robertson.  She now has a career record of 40-19 in singles and 32-7 in doubles.  Amy Robertson notched a 17-5 singles record and an 18-4 mark at double with Baumgartner.  She now has a record of 28-12 at singles and 42-11 at doubles.  Megan Robertson posted a 14-6 singles record and a 13-6 doubles mark with Brittany Bovalino, Kassie Leuschel and Kristen Jack.  Her career marks set at 22-15 in singles and 28-16 at doubles.  Transfer Kassie Leuschel posted a spring mark of 2-5 at singles and 8-3 at doubles with Bovalino and M. Robertson.  Bovalino was 8-6 in singles and 8-2 in doubles.

 

By: Ryan Smith