The women's tennis program at Shawnee State capped off its season in a competitive way Friday afternoon, falling to the Campbellsville Tigers' women's tennis program but not before obtaining an outstanding effort, again, from Kierstin Hensley and Claire Carruthers at the No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles slots.
In the final tennis match of her collegiate career, Hensley finished off one of the greatest tennis careers, both high school (Russell) and collegiate (West Virginia State, Shawnee State) in the history of the Tri-State Area by teaming with Carruthers for a dominating 6-1 victory over Campbellsville's Itzel Hernandez and Emily Carbo at No. 1 doubles. The pair finished the year 9-4 in their 13 official matches together.
Hensley was well on her way to an easy victory at No. 1 singles over Hernandez, a talented singles player in her own right, by grabbing a 6-0 opening set victory and a 4-1 lead in the second set before the match was ruled unfinished due to Campbellsville grabbing four victories prior to the conclusion of the No. 1 singles contest.
In additional contests, Shawnee State's Sara Martin Reguera and Allison Romito won two games over Campbellsville's Brenda Aguilar and Madison Hill at No. 2 doubles before falling, 6-2, while Grace Eberhard won two games at No. 4 singles in her opening set against Campbellsville's Rebeca Scurt.
Despite the loss, both tennis programs only lose three players combined to graduation -- albeit big parts to their overall success. Hensley is expected to return in an assistant coaching role next season as the Kentucky native competes her graduate school work in occupational therapy, while Jessica Willard was a four-year letterwinner in the program. Both will finish with high academic honors
Chase Ward, the lone graduating senior on the men's roster, has made significant contributions not only as a player and as a student assistant on the men's tennis program, but has made outstanding contributions across various sports all across the Shawnee State landscape, serving as the point man for Shawnee State's live tennis streaming abilities while serving as a co-volleyball statistician and a shot clock and scoreboard operator for men's and women's basketball among various roles across several different stick-and-ball sports. He too, will graduate with honors.
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