Women's tennis takes RMAC
by Elin Otter
The Metropolitan
With a 5-0 win over CU-Colorado Springs and a 5-1 win over CSU-Pueblo, Metro women's tennis captured its third consecutive RMAC Tournament Championship and improved its overall record to 12-6.
The Roadrunners also received individual honors with six players on the All-RMAC Team, including senior and team captain Beck Meares as the RMAC Player of the Year.
In the semifinal Friday, April 23, Metro shut down the No. 5 seed, CU-Colorado Springs.
In No. 1 doubles, Beck and Jess Meares crushed the Mountain Lions' Lauren Davis and Kim Barberi 8-0.
"Their team came out giggling," Beck Meares said.
Although CSU-Pueblo might have taken the match as a joke, the Roadrunners certainly did not. The 'Runners showed no mercy as they kept pounding the Lions in every match.
Beck Meares said Metro used the match as a warm-up for the final, as they knew CSU-Pueblo would be sharper opponents.
In the championship match Saturday, April 24, the Roadrunners faced No. 2 seed CSU-Pueblo. The teams had played against each other only seven days earlier when Metro won convincingly 8-1.
This time, the Thunderwolves came out seeking revenge.
"They were a much tougher team Saturday than on Sunday (April 17)," Beck Meares said.
Mercedes Pollmeier and Natalie Ilott (No. 2 doubles) also felt the difference as they lost to Margo Rainey and Maggie Welte 2-8, a team they previously beat.
"The team Merc and Natalie played came out firing," said head coach Dave Alden. "They (Pueblo) took them by surprise."
However, the No. 1 and No. 3 teams won their matches.
In singles action, Beck Meares, ranked No. 39 nationally, won her singles match over Pueblo's Kindi Vaughn 6-1, 6-2. Despite the numbers, the win didn't come easy.
"She (Vaughn) made me win the points," Meares said. "She didn't give it to me at all."
Second to finish her singles match was Jess Meares, who demolished Amber Bettis 6-0, 6-1.
"Jess' intensity and focus reflected the score," Alden said. "She dominated her (Bettis). She played magnificent tennis."
At the No. 3 position, Pollmeier had the chance to redeem herself from doubles play. Pollmeier turned around, slammed Rainey 6-4, 6-0 and clinched the title for Metro.
"The true character and quality of a competitor shows in how you deal with diversity," Alden said. "Merc took that quality and played her best tennis of the year."
The 2004 RMAC Women's Tennis All-Conference teams were a reflection of Metro's successes on the court this season.
Metro was represented in every position as seven Roadrunners, including first-year head coach Alden, received an honor.
"It's great, but this is an award that I graciously share with the women's team," Alden said.
"No coach is ever coach of the year if their women don't perform."
Despite the recognition as the best tennis player in the conference, Beck Meares was still humble. While talking about being selected, she looked down, blushed and said: "It's a nice honor."
The Roadrunners now look forward to the North Central Regional Championships, tentatively scheduled for May 7-9. The site of the championships is yet to be determined.
Metro All-RMAC Awards
Player of the Year
Beck Meares, senior
Coach of the Year
Dave Alden
First Team Singles
Beck Meares
Jess Meares, senior
Taya Bachman, freshman
Annette Chevarria, freshman
Second Team Singles
Mercedes Pollmeier, senior
Natalie Ilott, senior
First Team Doubles
B. Meares/J. Meares
Pollmeier/Ilott
Second Team Doubles
Bachman/Chevarria |
