GREENCASTLE, IND. -- The Baldwin Wallace University women's tennis team lost to Wheaton (Ill.) College, 5-0, today (Thursday, May 12) in the first round of the NCAA Division III Women's Tennis Tournament at the Blackstock Courts on the campus of DePauw (Ind.) University. This was the fourth NCAA Tournament appearance for the Yellow Jackets in the last five years.
The loss ends BW's seven-match winning streak and the Yellow Jackets end the season at 18-8 overall. Wheaton, ranked 30th in the nation and seventh in the Central Region by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, improves to 21-2 overall. The Thunder advance to tomorrow's second round against #17-nationally ranked and host, DePauw University.
"We ended another very successful season and our student-athletes had great support and fun," said Head Coach Jack Bethlenfalvy, who won his 300th match this season as one of the highlights. "We won the OAC title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament, so we accomplished two of our three major team goals. "But more importantly, we played well, bonded as a team and program and had a lot of fun doing it."
Pecinovsky and Mittler finished the season at 22-9 overall, while Greene and Pelosi were 18-6 and Marshall and Baker were 12-9. Pecinovsky and Mittler each racked up a total of 23 doubles wins this year, ranking tied for third all-time in BW women's tennis single-season history and Greene's 22 total doubles victories this year ranks sixth.
In singles play, Baker lost Marissa Shults at sixth singles by the scores of 6-2, 6-1 and the match ended when Pelosi lost to Sarah Ray 6-2, 6-0 at number four. Wheaton took the first set in the other four singles matches.
For the season, Pelosi led the team in wins with 22 and was 22-9 overall. Her 22 wins ranks tied for fifth all-time in BW women's tennis single season history. Greene was 20-6, Pecinovsky was 19-9, Marshall was 18-9, Mittler was 16-13 and Baker was 2-7. Junior Safaa Hajji (Rabat, MOROCCO) who was not available for the match today, was 13-2 in singles and 6-3 in doubles.
The loss marked the final match in the careers of three outstanding seniors in Pecinovsky, Pelosi and Marshall. The trio combined for 380 career singles and doubles wins during their careers in Berea.
Pecinovsky started at No.1 singles for the past three seasons. For her career, Pecinovsky is sixth all-time in school history with 68 singles wins and a 68-41 record and fourth in doubles with 73 victories and a 73-47 slate. Pelosi was a four-year starter and ranks tied for fourth all-time in singles wins with 70 and a 70-34 career mark and is tied for ninth with 52 doubles wins and a 52-40 doubles mark. Marshall ends her career ranked tied for seventh all-time with 54 singles wins and a 54-31 career slate and sixth all-time with 63 wins and a 63-50 career mark.
"Our three seniors each had a great career. We will really miss them as family members, good tennis players, excellent students and as leaders," contiuned Bethlenfalvy. "They leave a legacy of success that is unmatched in our program's history."
FOR MORE BW Sports Information, please contact Sports Information Director Kevin Ruple by telephone at 440-826-2327 and e-mail at kruple@bw.edu. or Assistant SID Jeff Miller by phone at 440-826-2780 and email at jefmille@bw.edu Fans can access the latest BW athletics information at www.bw.edu/athletics and we invite you to join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bwyellowjackets and Twitter at http://twitter.com/bwathletics
