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John Carroll University Athletics

home of the Blue Streaks
Madi Davila celebration shot
Jose Figueroa
Madi Davila
3
Otterbein WOTT (12-8)
4
Winner John Carroll JCUW (11-4)
Otterbein WOTT
(12-8)
3
Final
4
John Carroll JCUW
(11-4)
Winner

Match Recap: Women's Tennis | | Joe Ginley '16, SID

Davila's Dramatic Win Sends Women's Tennis to OAC Championship Match

JCU won a lengthy match over Otterbein at the Short Family Tennis Center

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS – In a rematch of the regular season finale, John Carroll Women's Tennis needed more magic, and got it.

The Blue Streaks beat Otterbein University for the second time in five days, punching a ticket to the Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament Championship in a dramatic 4-3 triumph.

After winning today at the Short Family Tennis Center, John Carroll will be making its first appearance in the title bout since 2021. 

Last match, it was Felicity Kolb playing the hero. Kolb again won her singles match late, but this time, it was Madi Davila getting the job done with all eyes watching.

The Blue Streaks and Cardinals again played to a 3-3 deadlock. Davila fell behind after losing the first set, but with plenty of support from her teammates, roared back to force a third set. And in the deciding set, the first year looked like a veteran, outlasting her foe. 

Doubles play provided a dramatic start for John Carroll, as two of the three matches came down to the wire. Maddie Kavenagh and Evelyn Deren rolled to a 6-3 victory at #1 doubles. Both #2 and #3 doubles were quite competitive.

In the end, Caroline Chandler and Madi Davila earned the critical conquest at #3 doubles. The senior/first year combo secured a massive 7-5 victory to win the team doubles point for John Carroll.

Otterbein evened up the score with a quick #1 singles win over Kavenagh, 6-0, 6-1. The teams then traded singles matches. Emma Smith fired up a great 6-1, 6-4 conquest at #5 singles. But then Caroline Chandler fell at #6, 1-6, 1-6, to even the score at 2-2. 

Otterbein sent JCU to the brink with a victory at #2, as Evelyn Deren lost a 1-6, 4-6 decision. John Carroll then battled back to knot things up at three apiece. The hero on Saturday, Felicity Kolb fought to a 6-4 win in the opening set. The junior fired out to a 5-0 start in the second set before her foe responded back with a furious rally. But in the end, the reigning OAC Athlete of Week finished things out, 7-5. 

And so, it would all come down to Madi Davila and Olivia Eckels at #4 singles. Davila dropped a heartbreaker in the first set, 7-6, via a 7-4 tiebreaker. With the whole crowd watching, Davila forced a third set with a huge 6-4 win. In the third and deciding set, Davila wore down her foe, emerging with the match-sealing 6-2 victory.

Next Up
John Carroll will play in the OAC Tournament Championship, looking for the team's first conference crown since 2021. The Blue Streaks will face Ohio Northern at 3 pm on Saturday at The College of Wooster. In the regular-season match between the two teams, the Polar Bears tallied a 6-1 win. 
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