Women's Tennis | 4/26/2014 11:33:00 PM
Wichita, Kan. – On an extremely windy day in Kansas, the McPherson College Lady Bulldogs traveled to Wichita attempt to earn an automatic bid to the NAIA National Tournament. The Bulldogs went undefeated during the regular season and were the top seed in the tournament.
The high winds on April 26 forced the matches indoors; however, with limited court availability the semi-finals were played on four courts at Genesis West Central in Wichita.
Up first for the Lady Bulldogs was the Coyotes of Kansas Wesleyan; MC defeated the Coyotes earlier in the season by an 8-1 score. The 'Dogs came out a little jittery but took the first two doubles matches with 8-5 and 8-4 scores, respectively; he number three doubles match was started next as well as the number one singles match. Top dog Emma Sheehan (Fullerton, Calif.) grabbed a quick lead and didn't look back as she scored the Bulldogs 3rd point with her 6-0, 6-1 victory. With the Coyotes number two player still playing in the number three doubles match, junior Brooke Vorhees (Riverside, Calif.) took the court. Vorhees jumped out to a 3-0 lead when her opponent retired due to injury giving the Bulldogs a 4-0 team lead. The number three doubles match went the distance but the stellar play of Kara Wright (Wichita, Kan.)and Chandler Short (Edgewood, Texas) gave the Bulldogs a 5-0 sweep and a pass to into the finals.
"We came out a little nervous but after a few games under our belts we settled down and started to execute," said McPherson head coach Jeff Benito.
The #2 Bethel Threshers defeated the #3 Ottawa Braves 5-0 in the other semi-final to set a rematch against Bethel College, the reigning KCAC Tournament Champions and the 2014 KCAC Regular Season Champions McPherson College Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs let loose against the Bethel Threshers showing little signs of their earlier jitters. McPherson's top doubles pair of Brooke and Nikki Vorhees (Riverside, Calif.) jumped out to a commanding 6-1 lead and gave the Mac their first point by winning 8-3. The Lady 'Dogs second pair of Brittany Gourlay (Riverside, Calif.) and Sheehan used smart play to undo their opponents 8-2 and a 2-0 team lead. The number three doubles pair of Short and Wright had a back and forth match with the Threshers; Bethel fought for every point but eventually the Bulldogs' energy began to dominate as they ran off the last four games to come from behind to take their match 8-5 and a very commanding 3-0 lead for the Bulldogs.
In singles, experience came through for the Bulldogs but the Threshers gave a very admirable fight. Five singles matches began with McPherson needing just two match wins to send them to Mobile, Alabama. B. Vorhees gave the Bulldogs their fourth point with her dominating win at number three singles 6-0, 6-1. Senior Thresher Steph Shogren was able to gut her way to a victory against Bulldog N. Vorhees 6-3, 0-6, 6-2 to give the Bethel Threshers some life in the match. Leading 4-1, the Bulldogs needed one more point and got it from junior Gourlay. Gourlay came out on top of a marathon match and defeated her opponent 6-2, 6-4 to send the Bulldogs to the NAIA National Tournament.
"I am so impressed with these young ladies," said Benito. "They made me extremely proud today with how they handled themselves. We shook off the jitters from our early match and came out very determined against Bethel. The Threshers didn't make it easy on us though, they made us earn it. The last remaining matches before Brittany Gourlay clinched were going the distance, but I'm glad that we were able to shore it up. I am extremely proud of how we swept all of our doubles matches today especially with Chandler Short and Kara Wright…they both showed that they wanted it more than either of the teams they faced today. What an amazing accomplishment for this team and these incredible young ladies!"
McPherson now gets to travel to the 2014 NAIA National Women's Tennis Tournament in Mobile, Ala. which starts on May 13th.
Final Scores:
McPherson College 5, Kansas Wesleyan University 0
Doubles:
1) B. Vorhees/N. Vorhees (Mac) def. Cook/Ebenkemp (KWU) 8-5
2) Sheehan/Gourlay (Mac) def. Zuaznabar/Rodriguez (KWU) 8-4
3) Chandler Short/Wright (Mac) def. Husch/Reese (KWU) 9-8
Singles:
1) Emma Sheehan (Mac) def. Maria Rodriguez (KWU) 6-0, 6-1
2) Nikki Vorhees (Mac) vs. Sydney Reese (KWU) DNP
3) Brooke Vorhees (Mac) def. Cassidy Cook (KWU) 3-0, Ret.
4) Brittany Gourlay (Mac) vs. Chelsea Ebenkemp (KWU) DNP
5) Claire Crossman (Mac) vs. Vallerie Zuaznabar (KWU) DNP
6) Kara Wright (Mac) vs. Rachael Husch (KWU) DNP
McPherson College 5, Bethel College 1
Doubles:
1) B. Vorhees/N. Vorhees (Mac) def. Honer/S. Shogren (BC) 8-3
2) Sheehan/Gourlay (Mac) def. Hipp/Weaver (BC) 8-2
3) Kara Wright/Short (Mac) def. R. Shogren/Scheverman (BC) 8-5
Singles:
1) Emma Sheehan (Mac) vs. Bree Honer (BC) DNF
2) Steph Shogren (BC) def. Nikki Vorhees (Mac) 6-3, 0-6, 6-2
3) Brooke Vorhees (Mac) def. Allie Hipp (BC) 6-0, 6-1
4) Brittany Gourlay (Mac) def. Madelyn Weaver (BC) 6-2, 6-4
5) Claire Crossman (Mac) vs. Ashley Suhr (BC) DNF
6) Chandler Short (Mac) vs. Alyssa Scheverman (BC) DNF
