HANOVER, Ind. – For the fifth consecutive season, the Hanover women's tennis team is the champion of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference regular season, as the Panthers defeated Defiance, 8-1, during Saturday's Senior Day.

The Panthers finish the fall regular season slate with a 7-2 overall mark, while also posting a 7-0 record in HCAC action. Hanover's victory Saturday was also its 40th straight in HCAC regular season play.

Hanover honored its lone senior Saturday, Alana Feeley (Colchester, Vt.), as she competed in the No. 1 doubles match with sophomore Caroline Millard (Cincinnati, Ohio). The duo won three of the first four games en route to an 8-5 victory.

Feeley also competed in a singles exhibition contest, where she won in straight sets. The senior conceded just one game in the 6-0, 6-1 decision.

The Panthers lost just one game over the second and third doubles matches, with junior Susie Winternheimer (Indianapolis, Ind.) and sophomore Meghan Farrell (Indianapolis, Ind.) earning a win at No. 3, 8-0. Sophomore Cami Jones (Richmond, Ind.) and freshman Haley Parker (Leo, Ind.) added an 8-1 win in the second slot.

Hanover secured the team victory, earning its fourth and fifth points, with sweeps in the final two singles spots. Freshmen Addison Laker (Indianapolis, Ind.) and Mia Katzenberger (Crawfordsville, Ind.) competed in the Nos. 5 and 6 matches respectively, improving to a combined 11-0 in conference singles play.

Jones, Winternheimer and Parker also added straight set victories, giving Hanover the final 8-1 decision.

Hanover has secured the top seed in the HCAC Tournament for the fifth straight season and will receive an opening round bye next weekend. The Panthers will be seeking their fourth conference tournament title in five years and will face the No. 4 or 5 seed in HCAC Semifinals at 1 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 21. The tourament will be held in Indianapolis at the West Indy Racquet Club. 

Contact: Tyler Jester

jestert@hanover.edu