DU Drops WHAC Championship 5-4; Diana Named WHAC Player of the Year
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Lady Panthers fell 5-4 in the WHAC Tournament Championship to Northwestern Ohio on Saturday at Orchard Hills. The women's tennis team finishes their second season with an 11-12 record, which is a five win improvement over the women's tennis team's inaugural season.
Davenport started strong, winning two of the three doubles matches to gain an early lead. The No. 1 doubles team of Diana Favela (San Luis Potosi, Mexico) and Denisse Favela (San Luis Potosi, Mexico) defeated the Racers' pair of Jamie Hiborn and Shaleigh McClintock 8-4, while DU's No. 2 pair of Erin Hossack (Dearborn, Mich.) and Stephanie Fortney (Allegan, Mich.) also won, 8-5, to give the Lady Panthers a 2-1 advantage through the doubles matches.
The strong play continued early in the singles matches as four of the six Lady Panthers won their first set. Diana Favela continued her strong play, winning No. 1 singles in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2. Twin sister Denisse Favela added a win of her own, 7-6 (7-2), 6-1 to give the Lady Panthers two of the three matches they needed to win the WHAC crown.
The Racers picked up two straight set wins of their own as Shaye Warman won No. 4 singles 6-1, 6-2 over Kristi Kuzdal, and No. 6 Tara Carr defeated Kelly Todd 6-3, 6-3.
The final two matches went all three sets with both being tied at 5-5 in the final set. The Racers, needing wins in both matches to claim the title, notched victories in both matches to clinch the championship. Shaleight McClintock defeated Stephanie Fortney 0-6, 6-4, 7-5, and moments later Katie Whittington defeated Erin Hossack 1-6, 6-3, 7-5.
Following the match, Diana Favela was named the 2011 WHAC Player of the Year. She also earned All-WHAC Singles honors.
Denisse Favela joined her sister as an All-WHAC Singles honoree, and together Diana and Denisse earned All-WHAC Doubles.
On the men's side, Victor Roland (Natal, Brazil) earned All-WHAC Singles and partner Jeff Karasinski (Grand Rapids, Mich.) joined Roland in earning All-WHAC Doubles.
Earning the WHAC Champions of Character award for Davenport were Kristi Kuzdal (Grandville, Mich.) and Matt Weiden (Kentwood, Mich.)
.
