Women's Tennis celebrates Senior Day with 6-3 victory over Mount Union in OAC opener

By Blake Moore

LIMA — The Ohio Northern women's tennis team celebrated Senior Day in winning fashion Saturday afternoon, defeating league foe Mount Union 6-3 in its 2018-19 Ohio Athletic Conference opener inside the Westwood Tennis & Fitness Center in Lima.

With the victory, the Polar Bears improve to 10-3 overall this season and 1-0 in the OAC. Meanwhile, the Purple Raiders fall to 8-3 overall and 0-2 in league action.

Senior Ashley Ochsenhirt (Birmingham, Ala./Briarwood Christian) was honored prior to the match for her three-year career at Ohio Northern after transferring from Mississippi College following her freshman year. During her career, the senior has compiled a 106-40 overall record, two All-OAC First-Team honors, and six OAC Women's Tennis Player of the Weeks accolades.

Ochsenhirt, junior Mackenzie Wills (Ada), and freshman Olivia Schrager (Dayton/Miami Valley) each won two matches to lead Ohio Northern in Saturday's conference opener.

In doubles play, Ochsenhirt and Wills kicked off the match with an impressive 8-3 victory at No. 2 doubles, giving ONU the early match lead.

Following a Mount Union victory at No. 3 doubles, the Polar Bears pulled ahead for good when Schrager and junior Kaleigh Cummins (Springfield/Northeastern) claimed an 8-5 win at No. 1 doubles.

Wills went on to top the individual performances in singles action, blanking her opponent at No. 5 singles 6-0, 6-0 to provide Ohio Northern a 3-1 advantage.

From there, Schrager and Ochsenhirt won contests on the No. 2 and No. 1 courts, respectively, to clinch the match for ONU. The former defeated her opponent 6-4, 6-1 while the latter manufactured a 6-3, 6-3 win.

Freshman Abigail Staskiewicz (Mars, Pa./Oakland Catholic) capped the afternoon with a 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 10-5 victory at No. 6 singles.

Ohio Northern will return to action next Wednesday afternoon, April 3, with an OAC road clash at Heidelberg. Match time is set for 3:30 p.m.