Women’s tennis team finishes in sixth-place at MIAA Championships

The women's tennis team finished in sixth-place at the 2005 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Championships, which was being hosted by Kalamazoo College. In the final MIAA seasonal standings, a combination of championships and regular season finish, the Lady Comets tied for sixth-place.

Leading the way for Olivet was sophomore No. 1 singles player Rachel Vilums (Hudsonville), who placed fourth in her flight. Vilums won her first match, 6-1, 6-1, over Lauren Thompson from Alma College. She then lost her semifinal and third-place matches

For her efforts this year, Vilums earned second-team All-MIAA honors. She is the first women's tennis player in school history to earn All-MIAA honors.

At the No. 5 singles flight, freshman Abbie Utberg (Commerce Twp./Walled Lake Central) lost her first match to the top-seeded player from Calvin College. She bounced back to beat Tracey Ellis from Tri-State (Ind.) University, 6-3, 6-1. Utberg ended the championships with a loss in the consolation bracket finals.

Sophomore Danielle Post (Marshall) had a similar championship run at the No. 6 singles flight. After losing to a Calvin player, she defeated Jen Richmond from Tri-State, 6-4, 6-0. Post fell in the consolation bracket finals.

The Comets' No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 singles players lost twice yesterday and were eliminated.

In doubles play, Olivet's No. 1 tandem of Utberg and Vilums picked-up an easy 6-2, 6-1 win over the Alma duo in their first round match. They dropped a straight set match to the top-seed duo from Albion College in the semifinals and the second-seed Calvin duo in the third-place match.

The No. 2 doubles tandem of Stephanie Pott (Kalamazoo/Mattawan) and Lindsey Struble (Battle Creek/Harper Creek) lost their first round match. After coming back to win 7-6, 6-4, in the semis of the consolation bracket, they fell in the consolation bracket finals. Post and Jaime Morrison (Marshall) lost their first two matches at the No. 3 doubles flight. However, they won 6-2, 6-2, in the consolation bracket.