By Cooper Moretz '16
BEREA, Ohio – The Baldwin Wallace University women's tennis team has been one of the most successful in the Ohio Athletic Conference during the past two decades. This fall and into the spring, veteran Head Coach Jack Bethlenfalvy hopes to continue rebuilding his team into a championship caliber program.
Bethlenfalvy, who owns a 357-267 career record and .572 winning percentage in 31 seasons with four OAC regular season titles, four OAC Tournament crowns and four berths in the NCAA Division III National Tournament (2007, 2008, 2010 and 2011), welcomes back eight veterans and seven starters to a team that finished 5-18 overall a year ago.
Returning to lead the way are returning starters in seniors Kelsey Blatt (Tallmadge), Mackenzie Donalson (Hilliard/ Davidson), Mackenzi Baker (Vermilion/ Elyria Catholic) and junior Claire Watts (Medina/ Highland).
"Since we didn't have a seniors last season, we have everyone back with another year of experience," said Bethlenfalvy, who is the winningest women's tennis coach in BW, OAC and Ohio collegiate history. "Having our top three players, No. 1 singles and captain Kelsey Blatt, No. 2 singles Claire Watts and No. 3 singles Mackenzie Donalson should provide us with great leadership and will make us a much stronger team."
Blatt looks to lead the way after being a second-team All-OAC pick for the third straight year. Blatt had a 7-19 singles mark at No.1 and combined with Donalson for a 10-16 mark at No.1 doubles. She will carry a 28-49 singles and 33-36 doubles record into her senior season.
"Leadership is crucial for a team and I have one of the best in my captain, Kelsey Blatt," said Bethlenfalvy. "She sets the tone by working to improve her game, thereby making the team stronger. A good leader will keep the team focused and keep players working towards their goals."
Watts is coming off of a season where she earned All-OAC honorable mention honors after posting an 8-17 record at No. 2 singles and combined with Baker for a 6-18 slate at No. 2 doubles. Watts will carry a 19-34 career singles and 17-36 career doubles slate into her junior season. Donalson moved up to No. 3 singles last season and posted a 12-12 record. She will take a 27-46 overall record with her into her senior season. Baker had some starts at No. 6 singles and was 0-7.
In addition to the four seasoned veterans, Bethlenfalvy will welcome back senior Hayley Peterson (Tulsa, Okla.), junior Anastasia Koval (Seven Hills/ Parma Normandy) and sophomores Shannon Finkenthal (Beachwood) and Kayla Eeg (Waterford, Pa.).
Peterson and Finkenthal split time at No. 4 and No. 5 singles, and the duo started at No. 3 doubles and posted a record of 4-19. Finkenthal was 7-17 in singles play, imncluding a 5-8 slate at No.4 and a 1-7 mark at No.5. Peterson was 1-8 at No.4 and 1-12 at No.5. Eeg split time at No. 6 singles with Baker and posted a 2-10 record. Koval had a 1-2 mark in limited action.
Bethlenfalvy also welcomes three freshmen, Imani Robinson (Cincinnati/ School for Creative & Performing Arts), Allison Massaro (Conneaut/ Edgewood) and Kathleen Moser (Strongsville), and a senior, Katarina Brankov (Broadview Heights/ Brecksville-Broadview Hts.), who will look to see her first action after not appearing in a match last season.
"We have four freshmen coming this fall, and I expect two of the freshmen to compete and battle for a spot in the starting lineup," said Bethlenfalvy. "I also believe Imani Robinson could be one of the best players in the OAC. Overall, the addition of the four new student-athletes will make us a stronger team and add to the depth we need to be able to compete with the top teams in the conference."
The Yellow Jackets open their season on Saturday, September 5 when they compete in the Nancy J. Heath Invitational at Allegheny (Pa.) College. BW also travels to the annual Oberlin College Tournament from Sept. 11-13 and ends its fall season by hosting NCAA Division III Clarion (Pa.) University on the newly renovated courts at the "Pop" Collins Tennis Complex on campus.
In the spring, BW annually travels to Hilton Head, South Carolina during spring break to play a minimum of five matches and then begins its traditional spring and OAC schedule in mid-March.
