Elizabeth Brewington

Catherine Christian

The College of Wooster women's tennis team played strong competition during its annual spring break trip, including nationally-ranked Coe College and three other programs with winning records, but ultimately, many closely-contested matches swung the other way, as the Fighting Scots went 1-5 in six contests at Orlando, Fla.

The Scots got into the win column right away, as they edged out Howard Payne University, 5-4, in their opening match on March 9. Rose Chiumento was a key contributor in the victory, as her and teammate Elizabeth Brewington notched the initial win – a dominant 8-0 triumph at No. 3 doubles – and then later, Chiumento clinched the match with a gutsy 4-6, 6-2, 1-0 (10-5) decision at No. 4 singles.

Wooster ran into a tough test next, No. 39 ranked Coe, and although the Scots didn't tally a win in their 0-9 setback, they made some noise at several positions in the lineup. The always formidable pairing of Catherine Christian and Rachel Molé took their opponents to the limit at the top doubles spot (9-7), while Brewington nearly stole the second set in a competitive loss at No. 5 singles, 6-1, 7-6 (8-6).

Next was an unlucky defeat at the hands of Ursinus College, as Wooster started 2-1 in doubles, and then went ahead 4-1 with two singles victories, only to see its opponent rattle off four consecutive matches and prevail 5-4. One highlight was the play of Christian and Molé, who were lights out with 6-2, 6-1 and 6-2, 6-2 wins at No. 1 and No. 2 singles, respectively. They also scored an 8-5 victory in doubles.

The Scots experimented with five different doubles pairings during the trip, and might have found something in Morgan Wagers and Melanie Chin at the third-spot. The duo teamed up for the first time ever in Wooster's next match, a 7-2 loss to Colorado College, and came away with an 8-6 triumph.

It was all Christian and Molé in a 6-3 setback against Bethel (Minn.) University, as they cruised to an 8-1 decision in doubles, and took their singles matches as well – with Christian's winning encounter at No. 1 being an intense one, 5-7, 6-4, 1-0 (10-7).

Wagers and Chin joined forces again to take on Calvin College during the last match of the trip, and once again the two were victorious, this time by a more decisive 8-4 margin. Also noteworthy, Bonnie Salmeron secured her first win in Florida, 7-5, 6-2 at No. 6 singles. In the end, Calvin escaped the Scots narrowly, though, 6-3.

Overall, seven different players notched at least one win during the trip, with Christian and Molé pacing the squad with matching six-win efforts (3 singles, 3 doubles). Brewington won twice at No. 5 singles and added another two victories in doubles at the third-spot, while Chiumento recorded three wins in all, with two coming alongside Brewington.