Davenport captain Hannah Tennant / Photos: Bobby Gable
The 2017-18 season is a special one for Davenport, not only for the team’s first Division I season but also for the fifth-year seniors who were the first Panthers. Captain Hannah Tennant is one of three founding members, and her scope lends insight into the Michigan team’s lifespan so far.
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There was an element of surprise as Davenport dug into its DI independent schedule. The team started with a first-ever win over varsity Notre Dame College, and then posted lopsided scores against familiar and new DI opponents.
“Unfortunately I think that is how [it is in] women’s rugby in the United States: The top of DI or DII is drastically different than the bottom,” Tennant reflected. “We ran into the same problem when were a DII team as well. We wouldn’t find good competition until we met teams like Vassar, Bloomsburg and Winona in the semifinals and finals.”
Energies turn internal and maintaining the discipline to keep executing at a high level becomes a major focus. Tennant credited head coach Greg Teliczan for keeping the team grounded and reiterating the notion that any team, any day, can step up and play the game of its life.
“He always says that other teams have to show up, play and perform in the same conditions that we do. It’s all about who wants it more,” Tennant explained. “And he is right. In every game we played this year, the teams against us were resilient and played hard all 80 minutes.”
Tennant realized that Davenport had real DI trophy-winning potential after the UVA game in Virginia.
“They were a really solid squad who exposed a lot of our weaknesses in the first half, and the halftime score was tight,” the captain recounted. “We really came together in the second half and started playing our system. I know that UVA has done well in Division I and playing against them really showed the team what we needed to work on, but that we also had a chance.”
Davenport got its first DI post-season win against Michigan State during the play-in round, and then took down Minnesota 49-5 in the quarterfinals. That set up a semifinal against reigning DI fall champion Air Force. A muddy, sloppy day, Davenport’s plan hinged on keeping the ball tight and keeping possession, putting lots of pressure on the pack.
“Every single one of them played their hearts out and that’s why we won that game,” Tennant said of the 15-5 victory. “Our back line disappeared in that game because it was difficult to move the ball around, and Air Force’s back line had really good line speed on defense.”
Tennant also tipped her hat to Air Force’s 8-9-10 combo of Lauren Fortney, Kelsie O’Brien and Noelle Heiser.
“[They] really combined well at the back of the scrum and that was something we didn’t do as good of a job shutting down as we had liked to in the first half,” the flyhalf explained. “But truly the difference in that game was the amount of ball possession we had. Once we got the ball back, especially in the second half, we wouldn’t give it back for 10-15 minutes at a time, and our goal line defense this weekend was better than I have ever seen it.”
Veronica Overbeek and Lexy King in particular made try-saving tackles at the goal line and throughout the match. Davenport got its tries from No. 8 Hunter Moreland (2) and lock Amy Plambeck, and Air Force sent Sarah Stinson into the try zone.
When Davenport arrives in Greenville, S.C., expect to see a dynamic team. The roster is a mix of fifth-year seniors (Danielle Ordway, Moreland, Tennant) who have been with the team since its inception, to recruits like Mariah Pruitt, Megan Bird, Alanna Girardin, Bethany Gable and Hannah Baker making an immediate impact. The captain pointed to returners like Allison Miedzielec and Amy Plambeck, who ramped up their presence in the forwards, and sophomores Olivia Ortiz and Lexy King who have developed into leaders.
“We know we have a lot to prove to our university and USA rugby, and we are excited for that challenge,” Tennant concluded. “We knew that we were going to have to work hard and we have this year. We are ready to compete on December 3 and really showcase all the work that has been put in this season.”