Tennis Concludes 2002 Season With OVC Tournament Loss :: Otahkians fall to Eastern Illinois 5-0 and Austin Peay 4-3 in consolation bracket at tournament.

Otahkians fall to Eastern Illinois 5-0 and Austin Peay 4-3 in consolation bracket at tournament.

April 20, 2002

NASHVILLE, Tenn.- The 2002 Southeast Missouri Tennis season came to an end of Sunday, when the Otahkians lost to Austin Peay in the consolation bracket of the OVC Tournament.

The Otahkians (2-17) struggled all season with a roster that was not deep enough to field a full-team most of the season. A season-ending injury to highly-touted freshman Tyla Wells at the beginning of the Spring put the Otahkians in a hole and forced the team to find replacements at the bottom of their lineup.

Southeast lost to #1 seed Tennessee Tech 4-0 on Friday afternoon in the first round of the tournament. A loss in doubles and a default out of the number six singles position put Southeast in a 0-2 hole and once Tech took the #1 and #5 singles matches the match was called as the Golden Eagles clinches 4-0.

On Saturday morning in the consolation bracket, #4 seed Eastern Illinois also proved too much to handle for the Otahkians. The Panthers claimed the doubles point and four singles points to win 5-0 and end the Otahks season.

Sunday afternoon, Southeast fought hard but was unable to claim seventh place against Austin Peay. Kay Ehlke, Adrienne Bland and Cassie Foster each pulled off singles victories, but a default in the sixth position eventually cost Southeast the match. In doubles, Bland and Daniela Garcia had a good game, going to the tiebreaker but eventually losing 9-8 (10-8).

Southeast finished 2-17 overall in the Spring with wins over Fairleigh Dickinson and OVC foe Tennessee State. The Otahkians made the OVC Tournament for the first time since 2000 after failing to make the tournament last year.

The good news for Southeast is that every player returns next season including Wells from injury.