Box Score Facing a perennial power in the Ohio Athletic Conference on the road early in the schedule would be a true test for the defending league champion John Carroll Blue Streaks.

At the Westwood Tennis and Fitness Center in Lima, Ohio, the Blue Streaks were challenged but passed with flying colors in downing the host Ohio Northern Polar Bears, 8-1.

Box Score

Ohio Northern, last year's regular season OAC runner-up, came in with an impressive 13-2 record (including five consecutive wins), and of its losses was against Division I Miami of Ohio. But the Blue Streaks seized momentum early by sweeping the doubles. Lauren O'Malley and Madisyn Rini had the toughest road. After jumping out to a 7-4 lead, the ONU tandem of Lynn Kelly and Ashley Ochsenhirt closed the gap to 7-6 but the Blue Streaks regionally ranked duo had enough in the tank to close the match out at 8-6.

Nicolette Bourlas and Natalie Bourlas played a strong match at #2 doubles, knocking off the senior pairing of Christina Corbean and Brittany Toney, 8-4.

The big surprise may have been the match involving Jennifer Stroyne and Carlye Campagna, The #3 doubles team had been 0-3 in limited time together this season, but were put into the line-up against Ohio Northern. Lack of past success meant nothing on this dat, as Stroyne and Campagna rolled to an 8-2 victory.

In singles play, Rini set the tone early by blasting Ola Latala, who was 14-3 entering play today, by a 6-0 6-1 score int he #2 match. Molly Traverso followed suit with a 6-1 6-0 win at #6 singles that sealed the team win. 

O'Malley, who moved up to the #2 singles ranking in the ITA/Oracle Central Region as of yesterday, fell behind Ashley Ochsenhirt 4-1 at #1 singles. She then turned the match completely around by winning 11 of the next 12 games to close out her match, 6-4 6-1. O'Malley is now 31-0 in her career as the #1 singles player for John Carroll in dual matches.

Katherine Devine (#4) and Stroyne (#5) also win in straight sets. The lone match that did not go John Carroll's way was at #3 singles, where Nicolette Bourlas lost in a third set tiebreak.

John Carroll improved to 6-8 overall and 2-0 in the OAC, while Ohio Northern dropped to 13-3 and 0-1 in league action.