For the first time in 19 years the Indiana Wesleyan University women’s tennis team lost a fall season match. Marian (Ind.) University brought an end to the 241 win streak during the fall season with a 5-4 victory on Tuesday in Marion.
The 241 match win streak began in 1995. The year the streak began, the national average for a gallon of gasoline in the U.S. was $1.15, Bill Clinton was president, O.J. Simpson was acquitted for murder, the Oklahoma City Bombing occurred, and Forrest Gump won the Oscar for Best Picture.
“We lost a tough battle to Marian,” said IWU Head Coach Eddy Shigley. “That ends our 241 match fall winning streak. There were lots of tears last night but we will learn and grow from this and get better. God is refining us!”
On Tuesday, the match began at Sutter Tennis Center and Marian claimed a 2-1 lead following doubles. The No. 2-doubles team of Kelsey Vessels (SO/Roanoke, Ind.) and Rachel Bottorff (SO/Newburgh, Ind.) earned the only IWU victory with an 8-4 triumph. Katie Wilson (JR/Middletown, Ind.) and Kim Mella (SR/Libertyville, Ill.) fell 8-4 in No. 1-singles and Courtney Siepman (JR/Plainfield, Ind.) and Morgan Smith (FR/Bremen, Ind.) led late in their No. 3-match but would fall 9-7.
Following doubles competition a small delay occurred as the singles matches were moved indoors at Greentown. Nearby thunderstorms were to blame. Indiana Wesleyan and Marian split the six singles matches which allowed Marian to claim the 5-4 team victory.
Wilson was victorious 6-3, 6-1 in No. 1-singles, Mella took a 7-6, 6-2 win at No. 5-singles, and Smith earned a 7-6, 6-2 at No. 6. Bottorff lost 6-3, 6-4 in the second position, Siepman fell 6-1, 6-1 at No. 3-singles, and Vessels lost 7-5, 7-5 in No. 4 play.
Indiana Wesleyan is next scheduled to play at 11 a.m. on Saturday at Goshen (Ind.).
