Scots Serving as Host School for GLCA Tourney

Grant D'Augustine

For the first time since 2002, The College of Wooster will serve as the host school for the annual Great Lakes Colleges Association Tournament, a nice tune-up for upcoming conference tourneys, taking place this Friday and Saturday, April 11-12. It will be Wooster’s lone action of the week. Traditionally, the GLCA brings together a highly-competitive field and this year is no different with the likes of Kenyon College, DePauw University, Carnegie Mellon University, and Kalamazoo College, which are currently ranked No. 7, No. 14, No. 17, and No. 26, respectively, in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association NCAA Div. III national poll. While Wooster is the “host,” the action will be taking place in central Ohio at or near the campuses of Denison University in Granville and Kenyon in Gambier, depending on the weather. A schedule and updated results will be posted at: http://athletics.wooster.edu/mten/news/2008/glca.php.

Last Week: The Fighting Scots lost three close matches, slipping to 5-8 overall and 1-3 in the North Coast Athletic Conference.

On April 1, Wooster ended up on the short end of a 5-4 score, as visiting Oberlin College edged the hosts during windy conditions at Wooster’s D.J. Hard Memorial Tennis Courts. The Scots, who eked out a 5-4 decision over Oberlin last season, got off to a good start, taking two-of-three in doubles action, highlighted by Grant D’Augustine’s (Cincinnati, Ohio / Turpin) and Pat Grab’s (Erie, Pa. / Cathedral Prep) hard-fought 9-7 victory at the top of the order. Also winning were Rob Ashmead (Grand Rapids, Mich. / City) and Andrew Garnett (Boulder, Colo. / Fairview) at No. 3 (8-3). The Yeomen fought back, though, for four singles victories to take the match. Every singles match, which included D’Augustine and Chris Collen (Granville, Ohio / Granville) continuing their hot play, was decided in straight sets. D’Augustine prevailed 7-5, 6-2 for his third-straight win at the second position and Collen improved to 8-1 on the season via a 6-2, 6-0 rout at No. 6.

On April 4, Malone College registered a 7-2 decision over Wooster in non-conference play at the Hall of Fame Fitness Center in Canton, Ohio. The Scots team points came at No. 3 doubles, where Ethan Arenstein (Cincinnati, Ohio / Sycamore) and Collen prevailed 8-4, and at No. 6 singles, in which Ashmead earned a hard-fought 7-5, 7-6 (7-5) triumph.

On April 5, Wooster, playing without its No. 1 player due to injury, fell 6-3 at NCAC rival Allegheny College. The host Gators swept the doubles competition, despite a game effort from Ashmead and Garnett, which saw them lose 9-8 in a tiebreaker (7-3) at No. 2. Despite everybody moving one spot up in the lineup, the Scots were even with Allegheny in singles. Arenstein won the match of the day at the fourth spot, as he pulled out a third-set tiebreaker (7-5) after splitting the first two 3-6 and 6-0, while Jeremy Dominik (Saint Marys, Ohio / Memorial) and Ashmead recorded convincing victories at No. 3 (6-3, 6-1) and No. 6 (6-2, 6-2), respectively.