ANNVILLE, Pa. - Just a day before the Falcons play in the MAC Commonwealth Championship against the Alvernia Golden Wolves, Messiah had three of their student-athletes named All-Conference.
Kaitlyn Russell earned First Team accolades while
Amanda Adams and
Emily Wichert each took home Second Team honors. After leading the Falcons to an undefeated conference record during the regular season for the third time in the last three seasons, head coach
Jon Arosell was named the MAC Commonwealth Coach of the Year.
After going a perfect 5-0 in singles play against conference opponents at the top singles spot in the regular season,
Kaitlyn Russell was named First Team All-Conference. The First Team honor is the third All-Conference accolade of Russel's career. She was named First Team and Rookie of the Year in 2016 before picking up Second Team honors last season. Overall on the season, Russell held a 6-4 record with all of her singles matches coming at the top spot. In doubles play she owned a 6-5 overall record with a 4-1 mark in the conference. Russell primarily played with Wichert in doubles play with the duo teaming up for a 5-3 overall record and 4-1 record at No. 1 doubles.
Emily Wichert also earned All-Conference honors, picking up Second Team accolades after holding a 4-1 conference record in singles play this season. Wichert split her time between the top two singles spots, but primarily played at No. 2 singles. She went 7-3 in matches at No. 2 singles and held a 4-1 mark in conference games on court two. As mentioned, Wichert primarily teamed up with Russell in conference play with the duo going 5-3 overall at No. 1 doubles with a 4-1 conference mark in the regular season. The pair also earned a dominating 8-1 victory in the Conference semifinals on Wednesday against Lebanon Valley.
Joining Wichert on the Second Team was fellow senior,
Amanda Adams. During her senior campaign, Adams split time between the No. 2, 3, and 4 singles matches, playing mostly on court three. She was perfect in conference, playing to a 5-0 mark. Overall she went 9-5 during the regular season and clinched Messiah's semifinals victory on Wednesday with a 6-0, 6-3 victory in No. 3 singles. In doubles, Adams partnered with her sister
Rebekah Adams for a 7-4 overall record including a 7-0 mark at No. 2 doubles and a 6-0 record against conference teams.
After coaching the Falcons to their second-straight undefeated conference record in the regular season,
Jon Arosell was named the MAC Commonwealth Coach of the Year for the second-straight year. Arosell has been at the helm of the Messiah women's tennis team for the last eight seasons and has the Falcons playing in the Conference Championship Match for a chance at their third Conference Title during his tenure.
The Falcons will host the Alvernia Golden Wolves in the MAC Commonwealth Championship on Saturday morning at 11:00 a.m. on the Criste Tennis Courts. Messiah is looking for their third title in the last four seasons.
