Laura Kummer

Rachel Molé

With a 5-0 shutout of Ohio Wesleyan University, The College of Wooster women's tennis team tied for fifth-place at the North Coast Athletic Conference Championships, held on the campuses of Denison University and Kenyon College in central Ohio this weekend.

Wooster's fifth-place marks another milestone for third-year head coach Amy Behrman's rebuilding project, as it is the highest conference finish for the program since the Fighting Scots also tied for fifth in the 2003 season.

During the regular season, Wooster defeated Ohio Wesleyan 6-3, but it was even more decisive in Saturday's postseason meeting. The Scots quickly swept the doubles, only yielding a combined six games. Rachel Molé and Catherine Christian shutout their opponents 8-0 at the top of the lineup, while Kimberly Carter and Laura Kummer were 8-1 winners at No. 3 doubles. Rose Chiumento and Catherine Boyles held off a challenge at the second position, prevailing 8-5 to give Wooster the 3-0 cushion.

In singles action, Molé and Kummer were very efficient in producing identical 6-1, 6-0 score lines at No. 1 and No. 5, respectively, as they clinched the match, which was played to decision. That gave Molé a final record of 8-8 at first singles during her initial collegiate season, and Kummer recorded the team's highest winning percentage with a 10-5 singles record.

On Friday, the Scots fell to third-seeded and regionally-ranked Oberlin College by a 5-0 count. Chiumento and Boyles pushed their foes at No. 2 doubles to an 8-4 decision.

With the bulk of the team expected to return, Behrman and Wooster, which finished with an 8-12 overall record while playing five regionally-ranked opponents, could very well be in line for more exciting milestones next year.