Weekly Notes: Women's Tennis

April 30, 2002

RUNNERS UP: Top-seeded UIC captured a 4-0 victory over the Butler women's tennis team in the championship match of the Horizon League Tournament on Sunday (Apr. 28) at North Central High School in Indianapolis. It was the fourth consecutive year that the Bulldogs and the Flames had battled it out for the league crown, and was the sixth consecutive year that UIC had taken the title. The Bulldogs, who were seeded second in the championships, end their season with a 13-12 overall record.

THE ROAD TO SUCCESS: The Bulldogs posted a pair of back-to-back 4-0 shutouts on the road to the championship match. Butler defeated No. 7 Cleveland State by the 4-0 count in the first round of the tournament on Saturday (Apr. 27), as the Bulldogs took the doubles point and then took the first three singles points for the final tally. Senior Amy Steiner defeated Audrey Shade at the No. 1 spot and sophomore Christina Laun captured a victory at No. 2 singles with a 6-0, 6-3 win over Fatima Martin. Senior Olivia Pedro would then seal Butler's fate with an impressive 6-0, 6-1 triumph over the Vikings' Erin Johnson in No. 3 singles. The Bulldogs would then defeat Wright State 4-0 in the semifinals that afternoon. Again, Butler won the doubles point to take a 1-0 edge and then Steiner, Laun and senior Molly Figel all won their respective singles matches en route to the win.

ALL-LEAGUE HONORS: Senior Amy Steiner and sophomore Christina Laun each were cited to the All-Horizon League first team for their efforts on the court this season. Steiner, who was also named to the all-league first team as a junior, finished the season with a 5-2 record at No. 1 singles and a 6-1 mark at No. 1/2 doubles in the league. Laun, who was named the Horizon League Player of the Week earlier in the season, posted a 6-0 record at No. 2 singles against league opponents and was 5-2 in the league at No. 1 doubles. Senior Molly Figel also received league honors, by being named to the all-league second team. This was the fourth consecutive year that the Fort Wayne, Ind. native had been cited to the first or second team all-league. She posted a 5-0 record at No. 3 league singles this season and was 5-2 at No. 1 doubles in the league.

SENIOR SEND-OFF: The loss to UIC marked the final collegiate match for four Butler women's tennis players. Seniors Mindy Champion, Molly Figel, Olivia Pedro and Amy Steiner all did their part in turning the Butler tennis program into one of the top teams in the league.

LOOKING FORWARD TO IT: Returning to the lineup for Butler next season are current junior Lisa Valle, sophomores Laurel Clements, Annie Gantz and Christina Laun and freshman Jaci Hoffman.