Consistency is a tough run of form to wrangle, especially when you consider that your opponent is striving to find the very same thing. Success in sports is derived from winning multiple events in a row, not winning one and losing one. The Shepherd women’s tennis team is trying to find that elusive thing called “consistency” at this point in the season.
After a rough patch of three losses in a row, the Lady Rams were able to rebound against the Fighting Falcons of Fairmont State, doubling them up by a final result of 6-3. The win definitely stopped the bleeding as the Rams had been beaten handily in their three matches previous. The Rams dominated in singles, but the Fighting Falcons were victorious in two of the three doubles matches on the day.
Junior Charles Town native Katelyn Mumaw defeated Taylor Nichols 6-2, 6-2; Jana Jones beat Erin McKown 6-1, 6-2, and Stacy Brewmaker defeated Caitlin Crutchfield 6-4, 7-5. Brooke Davis and Emily Johnson also were victorious for Shepherd; Fairmont’s Hailey Rogers had the only win for the Fighting Falcons. She defeated Alice D’Alauro 6-2, 6-1.
In doubles, the Rams were doubled up. Taylor Nichols and Caitlin Crutchfield defeated Mumaw and Jones in a tight affair, 9-7. McKown and Rogers defeated D’Alauro and Brewbaker 8-2, while Johnson and Chloe Raines dusted Emily Hart and Lauren Hamilton, 8-1. However, the success was short lived.
The Rams fell to Charleston over the weekend. However, the statistics were not available at press time. According to members of the team, it was an ugly affair. However, the team has already put the loss behind them. Team leader Katelyn Mumaw said, “We have West Virginia State tomorrow [Oct. 6]. They have a strong team, but it will give us an opportunity to play some strong opponents. Gettysburg is a solid team and we have a good chance to keep matches close and sneak out a win against them. We play Alderson-Broaddus on Friday. We beat them handily last year and hope to continue that success later in the week. I’ve been playing well and want to keep my momentum through the weekend, this week and peak for the conference tournament next week in Charleston.”
Speaking of the conference tournament, the Rams only have three matches until the major conference showdown. Needless to say, the Rams will be hoping to head into the three-day tournament in fine form. As stated earlier, the Lady Rams have been having a rough go of it lately. However, should they find their feet at the right moment, they could go into the first ever Mountain East Conference Women’s Tennis Championship full of confidence.
When you have confidence, anything can happen. A conference tournament is definitely possible. They have the opportunity; all that they have to do is grab it.
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