Sarah Duran

Joy Li

The College of Wooster women's tennis team matched the program record for the longest winning streak at nine matches, and the Fighting Scots are officially off to the program's best 12-match start in program history after Thursday's 7-2 win over North Coast Athletic Conference rival Wittenberg University at Schroeder Tennis Center in Tipp City, Ohio.

With the win, Wooster (11-1, 0-0 NCAC East Division) matched the 1978 team's nine-match winning streak, and surpassed the 1976 squad's 10-2 mark through 12 dual matches.

Sophomore Joy Li came through in the third set to keep her unbeaten record at No. 1 singles intact. Li turned aside a strong challenge from Wittenberg's (4-3, 0-0 NCAC West Division) Carli Milano 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 to post a 12th straight dual-match win at the top flight. She's now tied for sixth among all No. 1 student-athletes in program history for most wins at the flight in a single season. Noteworthy, Li's match against Milano marked just the second time the sophomore sensation needed a third set to secure the victory during her current winning streak.

First-year Sarah Duran came through in the third set of her match at No. 2 singles to officially clinch the win. Duran turned aside the Tigers' Sarah Gallup 7-5, 3-6, 6-4.

Duran and Li were double winners in the match, as was senior Morgan Wagers. Li and Wagers warded off Wittenberg 8-5 in the first flight in doubles to give Wooster a 2-1 edge heading into singles. In the third flight, Duran and first-year Kendra Devereux won 8-3.

Wagers' singles match ended in favor of the senior 7-6 (3), 6-2.

Sophomores Shannon Sertz (6-2, 6-7 (3), 7-6 (8-6) and Mali Zemedkun (7-5, 6-0) rounded out the Black & Gold's winners.

Notable, Wooster's 11 wins are the most since 1998 when the Scots finished with 11.

Next, Wooster opens up North Coast Athletic Conference East Division play against Oberlin College (10-5, 0-0 NCAC East Division) at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, April 6.