MILWAUKEE – The Mount Mary University tennis season is at an end after an abbreviated 2016 fall campaign. The Blue Angels (0-2) battled through the season and are now in the process of bringing the program back to the success it enjoyed in 2013 and 2014 seasons.
After suspending the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference portion of the schedule on Sept. 9, 2016, the Blue Angels were left with a few games left on the remainder of the year's schedule.
Although abbreviated, the Blue Angels worked through the full seven weeks of the available season. The regular season began against Carroll University in Waukesha, Wis. The Blue Angels fell short 8-1 to the Pioneers. With only five Blue Angels available for the dual match, MMU forfeited one doubles and one singles point.
Looking to avoid the full sweep to start the season, senior Ana Mercado (Grafton, Wis.) bounced back from a 6-2 set loss to rally her team. Mount Mary Head Tennis Coach Allen Neuwirth described the shining moment, "Our players, who had previously been defeated, gathered on the sidelines to cheer on their team Captain Ana Mercado, in the remaining match, number one singles. Ana had lost the first set to her highly skilled opponent and it looked like we would have to return home without any wins. But Ana wasn't going to go down easily."
Mercado had become accustomed to tough opponents and tight spots as the senior had taken over No. 1 singles and doubles duty since her sophomore season. Coach Neuwirth continued his recollection of the senior, "She turned the momentum with a combination of superior fitness and a tenacious competitive spirit. This tied the sets at one each. The level of drama rose as they began the super tie-break. Cheered on by her teammates, Ana prevailed to win the match!"
Mercado was not the only returning varsity Blue Angel for the 2016 season. Amy Fahrendorf (So./Cedarburg, Wis.) and Amy Gossett (So./Franklin, Wis.) came back for their second seasons for MMU tennis. Fahrendorf and Gossett added a backbone and now are the elder state persons on the Blue Angels roster. Gossett's 4-5 record against Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference teams in 2015 was mainly at the No. 3 singles spot. Her experience against the some of the region's top talent will help that new leadership role as MMU looks to bounce back in 2017.
Marianne Xiong (Sr./Franklin, Wis.) and Nina Kesic (Fr./Lisle, Ill.) helped round out the Blue Angels lineup for 2016. Both hit the courts for their first ever
collegiate tennis this last season. Xiong stuck through the entire season to finish with Mercado as the only seniors of the 2016 team.
MMU tennis will now look to the future and their 2017 season. Struck by circumstance in 2016, the Blue Angels are determined to solidify their roster and continue to grow for the coming seasons. For all updates concerning the team and other Blue Angels, stay tuned to mtmaryathletics.com.
