Brandywine takes five titles to Chieftans’ three to win invitational

Published 2:19 am Monday, September 20, 2004

By By ADAM FISHER / Niles Daily Star
Four teams may have participated in Saturday's Brandywine Invitational tennis tournament, but it was dominated by two.
Brandywine and Dowagiac won the championship at every flight. Dowagiac dominated the singles, while Brandywine's doubles carried the Bobcats.
It was a singles player, however, that made the difference in Brandywine's invitational win.
The Bobcats finished in first place at the tournament with 28 points, narrowly beating Dowagiac with 27. Paw Paw finished with 15 points and Lake Michigan Catholic had 10 points.
Amy Konopinski won the championship at No. 3 singles, the only non-Chieftain to claim a singles title, to give Brandywine the final edge over Dowagiac.
For Dowagiac, Lisa Rubino won at No. 1 singles, Barbara Laing won at No. 2 singles and Ann O'Keefe won at No. 3 singles.
All three of the Dowagiac players also won championships at their previous tournament, the Parchment Invitational on Sept. 12.
While the Chieftans' singles players kept them close, it was Brandywine's doubles teams that sealed the victory for the Bobcats.
At No. 1 doubles, Bethany Daniel and Christine Dvorak took the title. Lisa Konopinski and Kristin Peters won at No. 2 doubles.
Nikki Cooper and Courtnay Schlutt won at No. 3 doubles and Ashley Valentine and Jamie Bartuska won the title at No. 4 doubles.
The invitational victory came after Brandywine's No. 2 singles player Jenny Cowen hurt her back during the consolation match. Because of the injury, the Bobcats lost two points due to a default.
Brandywine is off until Wednesday, when it travels to Buchanan for a dual meet.
Both the Bobcats and the Bucks are undefeated in dual meets this season.