Tennis Team Loses Opener At Conference Tourney

Wabash opened the North Coast Athletic Conference Men’s Tennis Tournament by facing the second-seeded team from the Eastern Division, Allegheny. The Little Giant netters, seeded third in the Western Division, took the opening match but eventually lost to the Gators 4-1.

Senior Mark Ratner (Indianapolis, IN/North Central) started the match by taking a 6-2, 6-2 victory at No. 1 singles over Dave Howell of Allegheny. Todd Witte (Grand Rapids, MI/West Catholic) battled at No. 6 singles before falling 6-3, 6-4 to Joe Gallagher. Brian Miller (Ft. Wayne, IN/Homestead) lost his match at No.3 singles 6-3, 6-0, and freshman Andrew Shelton (Indianapolis, IN/North Central) was defeated 6-1, 6-1 at No.5 singles. The Little Giants lost all three doubles matches.

Wabash will face Oberlin College in the consolation bracket of the NCAC Tournament. The Little Giants defeated Oberlin 6-1 earlier this year.

Allegheny 4, Wabash 1    

No. 1 Singles – Mark Ratner (W) defeated Dave Howell (A) 6-2, 6-2    

No. 3 Singles – Gave Higgs-Horwell (A) defeated Brian Miller (W) 6-3, 6-0    

No. 5 Singles – Matt Sowa (A) defeated Andrew Shelton (W) 6-1, 6-1    

No. 6 Singles – Joe Gallagher (A) defeated Todd Witte (W) 6-3, 6-4    

No. 1 Doubles – John Dymond and Dave Howell (A) defeated Mark Ratner and Brian Miller (W) 8-4    

No. 2 Doubles – Chris Howell and Matt Sowa (A) defeated Scott Paramoure and Andrew Shelton (W) 8-4     

No. 3 Doubles – Gave Higgs-Horwell and Joe Gallagher (A) defeated Dan Altman and Todd Witte (W) 8-3