Carrying a four-match winning streak and facing an opponent that had won just one match this season, the Ohio State women’s tennis team seemed to be a heavy favorite going into Sunday’s match. Four hours in the hot sun later, the winning streak was over.
The No. 35 Buckeyes (7-6, 1-0) fell to South Florida 5-2 in the team’s first match of the season played outdoors. The match was in Tampa, Fla., where temperatures reached the mid-80s during the match.
“They were a lot more comfortable playing outside than we were,” coach Chuck Merzbacher said. “We were trying to get adjusted while playing a good opponent at the same time, it was a perfect storm.”
CHRISTIAN LAUTENSCHLEGER/THE LANTERNOhio State junior Christina Keesey returns a volley during the Feb. 28 match against Penn State. OSU won 6-1.“We knew they were good,” he said. “They just had a tough spell where they didn’t have everyone in their lineup.”
The Buckeyes opened the match by taking the doubles point, which ordinarily is an indicator of how the rest of the match will turn out. Sunday was the team’s second loss in which they earned the opening point.
“We knew the match was far from over,” Merzbacher said. “We definitely had our chances, but they kind of had a lot more going for them with the atmosphere.”
Ohio State’s only singles point came from the No. 6 spot, where junior Christina Keesey won her match in straight sets. Sophomore Cami Hubbs and senior Julie Blackmore both won the first set in their matches before dropping the next two.
Despite the loss, the Buckeyes remain in contention for an NCAA tournament berth as they begin the second half of the season and continue Big Ten play.
“We just have to keep getting the wins when we can get them,” Merzbacher said. “The team knows they are in the mix to meet all of our goals.”
The NCAA tournament, which begins in May, would likely offer the same weather conditions that the team faced Sunday.
“You just have to train for it the best you can,” Merzbacher said. “By the time we get to May we’re probably going to play somewhere hot.”
OSU will resume Big Ten play on Friday when they host Purdue at the Ohio State Varsity Tennis Center at 4 p.m.
Mark Stetson can be reached at [email protected].
