6/19/2009

The Men’s and Women’s Tennis teams finished the 2009 season with records of 6-11 and 16-5 respectively.  The Lady Patriots also received their first ever regional NCAA regional ranking during the 2009 season.

The Patriot Men’s team played a very tough schedule throughout the 2009 season, but managed to win four out of the last seven regular season matches.  Their momentum pushed them through to the Heartland Conference Tournament, where they reached the Semi-Final game, but were unable to overcome the University of the Incarnate Word and move onto the championship.

Senior Brett Sticker was honored by the Heartland Conference for his play during the season, receiving an All-Heartland At-Large selection

The Lady Patriots made a historical march through the 2009 season, finishing it off as the NCCAA National Champions.  This capped off the Lady Patriots most successful season in DBU tennis history and a first time National Championship.  The team rolled through the 2009 season defeating numerous regionally ranked schools in their climb to the top of the podium in Marion, Indiana, at the NCCAA National Tournament.

The Lady Patriots were led all season by Junior Jeanelle Stines and Sophomore Natalie Holmes, with both being honored as All-Heartland Conference At-Large selections.  Stines, Holmes, and Sophomore Lisa Olian received NCCAA All-American honors, with all three being named NCCAA All-Americans.  Lady Patriot doubles teams Stines and Olian, and Holmes and Freshman Hannah Innes were named NCCAA All-Americans.  Head Coach Jennifer Helm was recognized as the NCCAA Coach of the Year.

"DBU Women's Tennis had a great season.  With over half the team new to DBU, I knew we had potential to do great things.  The season started slow, but the girls played a tough schedule and really came together as a team accomplishing a lot.  We held our first national ranking and ended as the NCCAA National Champions in May.  This team is young, so I am excited to see what the future holds,” Head Coach Jennifer Helm said.

5/7/2009

The Dallas Baptist University Women’s Tennis team ended their 2009 season with a NCCAA National Championship.  The Lady Patriots captured their first ever national title in Marion, Indiana, on Thursday, March 7, defeating Palm Beach Atlantic University by the score of 5-3.

The Lady Patriots started out playing pool play on Tuesday sweeping Bethel College and Taylor University by the score of 5-0, then shutting down Palm Beach Atlantic University 5-0, to move onto semi-final action against Indiana University. 

The Lady Patriots were able to fend off Indiana Wesleyan in their semi-final matchup, 5-2, advancing to the championship match, in a rematch against Palm Beach Atlantic. 

After a hard fought match against PBA, the Lady Patriots defeated the Sailfish by the score of 5-3 to become the 2009 NCCAA Women’s Tennis National Champions.

“I am so proud of our team for the way they have played this season.  They have truly played their hearts out for their teammates, and it paid off today.  A NCCAA National Championship is a great way to cap off our most successful season in DBU history.  I cannot wait to see how this accomplishment feeds into next season,” Head Coach Jennifer Helm said.

The Lady Patriots also received numerous NCCAA All-American honors for their success in the 2009 season.  Junior Jeanelle Stines, Sophomore Natalie Holmes, and Sophomore Lisa Olian all were named NCCAA All-American Individuals.  The doubles teams of Stines and Olian, and Holmes and Freshman Hannah Innes received NCCAA All-American doubles team.  Head Coach Jennifer Helm was also recognized as NCCAA Coach of the Year for the Lady Patriots successful season. The Lady Patriots ended the season with a season record of 16-5. 

4/24/2009

The Dallas Baptist University Women’s Team traveled to San Antonio, Texas, on Friday, April 24, to compete in the Heartland Conference Tournament.  The Lady Patriots defeated Newman University by a score of 5-0 to open up the first round of play, but were unable to match the play of the University of the Incarnate Word in the Semi-Final game losing by the score of 6-3.

In the opening match up against Newman, the Lady Patriots took all three doubles matches to grab a early lead.  Newman was not able to recover as the Patriots took the first two singles matches to sweep the Jets to move on to the semi-final game.

DOUBLES

1) Jeanelle Stines-Lisa Olian, DBU, d. Gabriela Balarin-Christa Lawlor, NU, 8-0
2) Natalie Holmes-Hannah Innes, DBU, d. Megan Lowe-Emily Jones, NU, 8-1
3) Laura Atkins-Megan Billings, DBU, d. Danielle Drouhard-Emily Gerber, NU, 8-3

SINGLES

1) Holmes, DBU, vs. Balarin, NU, Did Not Finish
2) Stines, DBU, d. Lowe, NU, 6-2, 6-0
3) Olian, DBU, d. Jones, NU, 6-1, 6-0
4) Jones, DBU, vs. Gerber, NU, Did Not Finish
5) Atkins, DBU, vs. Lawler, NU, Did Not Play
6) Christine Wehrli, DBU, vs. Sara Allen, NU, Did Not Play

The Lady Patriots were matched up against the University of the Incarnate Word Cardinals in the semi-final game.  UIW received a bye to the second round with a second seed coming into the tournament.  The Lady Patriots were able to take one of three doubles matches from the Cardinals going into singles down 2-1.  The Lady Patriots could not catch a break in the six singles matches only winning two as the Cardinals were able to defeat DBU by a score of 6-3.

DOUBLES

1) Jeanelle Stines-Lisa Olian, DBU, d. Sarah Carswell-Erica Engberg, UIW, 8-6
2) Gretchen Trautmann-Stephanie Rodriguez, UIW, d. Natalie Holmes-Hannah Innis, DBU, 8-6
3) Cisse Drame-Karen Rodriguez, UIW, d. Laura Atkins-Megan Billings, DBU, 8-4

SINGLES

1) S. Rodriguez, UIW, d. Holmes, DBU, 6-0, 6-2
2) Stines, DBU, d. Trautmann, UIW, 6-3, 6-2
3) Carswell, UIW, d. Olian, DBU, 6-1, 6-1
4) Innes, DBU, d. Drame, UIW, 6-0, 6-0
5) Engberg, UIW, d. Atkins, DBU, 6-3, 6-4
6) K. Rodriguez, UIW, d. Christine Wehrli, DBU, 6-3, 6-3

The Lady Patriots were ranked sixth in the South Central Region before the conference tournament and are hopeful for the first ever regional bid for the DBU tennis program.  The top six in the region are selected to the regional tournament.

4/7/2009

The DBU Lady Patriots improved to 8-3 on the season on Tuesday afternoon when they defeated the Austin College Kangaroos 8-1.

The Lady Patriots started out strong with three straight doubles victories over the Kangaroos to grab the early lead, 3-0.

DBU went into their singles matches with a commanding lead, and continued their strong play by finishing off the Kangaroos, only dropping one out of six singles matches to capture their eighth victory of the season.

The Lady Patriots are back on the court on Tuesday, April 14 when they travel to Ada, Oklahoma, to take on East Central University.

Doubles
Sophomore Lisa Olian/Junior Jeanelle Stines (DBU) vs. Lewis/Satyavada (AU)- (DBU) 8-3
Sophomore Natalie Holmes/Freshman Hannah Lewis (DBU) vs. McCarty/Bailey (AU)- (DBU) 8-0
Freshman Laura Atkins/Freshman Megan Billings (DBU) vs. Dolan/Vercher (AU)- (DBU) 8-0

Singles
Sophomore Natalie Holmes (DBU) vs. Lewis (AU)- (DBU) 6-0, 6-2
Sophomore Lisa Olian (DBU) vs. Satyavada (AU)- (DBU) 6-3, 6-2
Freshman Hannah Lewis (DBU) vs. Kate Bailey (AU)- (DBU) 6-0, 6-0
Freshman Megan Billings (DBU) vs. McCarty (AU)- (DBU) 6-1, 6-0
Freshman Beth Slone (DBU) vs. Edwards (AU)- (AU) 6-4, 1-6, (10-7)
Freshman Andrea Knight (DBU) vs. Sechrist (AU)- (DBU) 6-1, 6-0

4/2/2009

The Dallas Baptist University Lady Patriot Tennis Team has received a sixth place ranking in the South Central Region as the first NCAA Division II Women’s Tennis Rankings were released on Wednesday, April 1, 2009.  With the regional ranking the Lady Patriots moved into the national spotlight with a ranking of thirty-six in all of Division II tennis. 

The Lady Patriots make history as the first DBU tennis team to receive regional and national recognition.

“We have seen great improvements throughout the first of the season, and only look to see more improvement as we continue the year.  I am proud of our team and what they have already achieved this 2009 season,” Head Coach Jennifer Helm said.
 
The South Central Regional Tournament will consist of the top eight ranked teams in the region at the conclusion of the 2009 spring season.  The top two ranked teams at in the final rankings will have the opportunity to host the tournament.  Four schools will compete at each host location.  The tournament will be played on May 6 - 8, 2009. 

The Lady Patriots have started out the season with an impressive 7-2 overall record and have recorded a 2-2 in-region record. 

Abilene Christian University received the number one spot in the South Central Region followed by second ranked Northwestern Missouri State University and third ranked Tarleton State University.  Heartland Conference foes, St. Edward’s University and the University of the Incarnate Word round out the top five in the region with DBU in a close sixth.

Continue to check for updates at www.dbu.edu/athletics for results and news on the Lady Patriot Tennis team.

Click Here to view complete rankings.

3/21/2009

The DBU Lady Patriots came up big on Friday afternoon as they defeated the Washburn Ichabods 5-4 on to grab their seventh win of the season moving to 7-2 on the year.  The Ichabods were coming off a strong win over #22 ranked Cameron Aggies before the Lady Patriots ended their hopes for two in a row.  Washburn falls to 4-2 on the year.

The Lady Patriots started out the day winning two out of three doubles matches against the Ichabods with Junior Jeanelle Stines and Sophomore Lisa Olian dropping the only doubles match.  Stines/Olian were defeated in a back and forth match with the edge going to Washburn 8-6.

With a 2-1 lead going into singles matches, the Lady Patriots looked to shut down Washburn with three quick wins, but the Ichabods were able to find a way back as they evened up the score as the first five singles finished, 4-4.

Stines (DBU) vs. Zitsch (WU) was the final match that would determine the day’s outcome.  Stines, coming off an injury and a very long doubles match was able to dig deep and defeat Washburn’s Zitsch 6-3, 6-7, 6-0, to seal the seventh win of the season for the Lady Patriots.  Stines jumper to a quick 1-0 lead on Zitsch after the first set, but could not close her out in the second as Zitsch evened the match, 1-1.  The Lady Patriots were able to rally around Stines as she pulled out a 6-0 final set to win the match and the day for her team.

The Lady Patriots are back on the court on Thursday, March 26, as they travel to Tahlequah, Oklahoma, to face Northeastern State University.

Doubles
Freshman Hannah Innes/Sophomore Natalie Holmes (DBU) vs.Zitsch/Castillo (WU)-DBU 8-2
Freshman Laura Atkins/Freshman Megan Billings (DBU) vs. Gayer/McKee (DBU)- DBU 8-4
Junior Jeanelle Stines/Sophomore Lisa Olian (DBU) vs. Nguyen/Sharpe (WU)-WU 8-6

Singles
Sophomore Natalie Holmes (DBU) vs. Nguyen (WU)- WU 6-0, 6-1
Junior Jeanelle Stines (DBU) vs. Zitsch(WU)- DBU 6-3, 6-7, 6-0
Sophomore Lisa Olian (DBU) vs. Sharpe (WU)-WU 6-3, 6-0
Freshman Hannah Innes (DBU) vs. Castillo (WU)-WU 6-4, 6-3
Freshman Laura Atkins (DBU) vs. Doole (WU)-DBU 6-3, 6-0
Senior Christine Wilson (DBU) vs. Gayer (WU)-DBU 6-1, 6-4