Nevada tennis dealt conference blow

By Joe Warren

Nevada Daily Mail

The Nevada Lady Tiger tennis team was dealt their first major setback in a bid to repeat as Southwest Conference champions Thursday. The Neosho Lady Wildcats let it be known they would be making their own noise in the conference race as they edged the Lady Tigers, 5-4.

Molly Ferree and Anita van Rooyan won in singles, and the top two Nevada doubles teams also were victorious but it wasn't enough to win on the road.

Ferree topped Katy Wear 8-5 at No. 2 singles, and van Rooyan beat Megan Kelly at No. 4 singles by the same score.

But the Lady Wildcats took four of the six singles matches, then won at No. 3 doubles to clinch the match.

The closest match of the afternoon came at No. 1 singles, which needed a tiebreaker to decide.

Whitley del Rosario fought Neosho's Lyndsey English throughout but succumbed 9-8 (7-2).

In doubles del Rosario bounced back, teaming with Ferree to beat English and Wear 8-4.

Megan Stacy and van Rooyan also won in doubles, topping Amanda Bogle and Annie Nine, 8-5.

Nine had beaten Stacy at No. 3 singles earlier in the match, 8-5.

Neosho controlled the bottom of the lineup, winning No 5 singles, No. 6 singles and No. 3 doubles.

Bogle beat Nevada's Elise McNeil at No. 5, 8-2.

Paide Oxeadine won at No. 6 singles, over Nevada's Nicole Foreman, 8-0.

McNeil and Foreman then fell to Kelly and Oxeadine, 8-2 in doubles play.

"Give them credit," Nevada head coach Dennis Pendrak said. "It would have taken a little more effort (on our part)."

Pendrak said inconsistent play, something that is often seen in a team with Nevada's youth, made the difference.

"We're a young team. Against Carthage we ran the court and did what we're supposed to, and the results speak for themselves," Pendrak said. "Our play was uneven. Even in some of the matches we won."

Pendrak said he has to keep an even keel, knowing the team is enduring some growing pains.

"I keep telling myself to be patient," he said.