2009 High School Girls Tennis Previews

Bath

Division: II

Head coach, years at school: Char Ellington, second season

Last year’s finish: 7-9 overall

Returning letterwinners: Muriel Smith (senior), Sammy Plumb (senior), Chrissie Ribley (senior), Carrie Ellington (senior)

Key newcomer: Emily Ruhe (freshman)

Season outlook: With the loss of three varsity singles players, Bath is looking for its doubles teams to lead with their experience.

Bluffton

Division: II

Head coach, years at school: Peter Diller, second season

Last year’s finish: .500

Returning letterwinners: Kelsea Kiene, Jess Liska, Jess Hunter, Trisha Bellman, Ashlin Gable, Kristi Geisier.

Key newcomers: Katie MacCraken, Amanda Solmonson, Emily Sprague, Shannon Koch, Devon Fleming, Rachel Sehlhorst.

Season outlook: Kiene and Liska return as captains and should provide leadership. According to Diller, the team is strong, talented and dedicated. The new players are catching on fast and there has been a high level of competition throughout the preseason.

Celina

Division: II

Head coach, years at school: Jan Morrison, seventh season

Last year’s finish: WBL runners-up

Returning letterwinners: Amber Jager (senior, first singles), Shelby Decker (senior, first singles/first doubles), Hannah List (senior, second doubles), Katie Pyle (junior, first doubles).

Key Newcomers: Emily Zender (sophomore, singles/doubles), Samantha Manci (sophomore, doubles/singles), Audra Manci (sophomore, singles/doubles), Andrea Martinez (sophomore, doubles), Brianna Beougher (freshman, singles/doubles), Allison Laux (sophomore), Elise Elston (sophomore), Leslie Gudorf (sophomore), Emily Nighswanger (sophomore), Janelle Westgerdes (sophomore), Katie Kerr (freshman, second doubles), Miranda Werling (freshman, third singles), Leah Rose (freshman, doubles), Caitlyn Menchoffer (freshman).

Season outlook: Jager and Decker return to the team after qualifing for Division I districts as a doubles team last year while Pile took second in doubles in the WBL championships. The Bulldogs are very deep. While the team is young, Morrison said it has shown nice progress.

Elida

Division: II

Head coach, years at school: Hanna Hager, first season

Last year’s finish: Fourth in WBL

Returning letterwinners: Jessica Adkins (singles), Emily Fernandez, Caitie Kales, Kassidee Fletcher

Season outlook: The Bulldogs look to be competitive in every position in the lineup in every match, as well as finishing strong in the WBL. Hager takes over the reigns after the retirement of longtime coach Dennis Schwinnen.

Lima Central Catholic

Division: II

Head coach, years at school: Kevin Bruin, second season

Last year’s finish: 7-6 overall

Returning letterwinners: Ashley Swick (first singles)

Key newcomers: Ashley Goodrich (senior, singles/doubles), Lauren McNamara (junior, singles/doubles), Nicole Cross (junior, singles/doubles), Jessica Kimball (junior, singles/doubles), Taylor Nocera (junior, singles/doubles), Brittany Soria (junior, singles/doubles).

Season outlook: Bruin expects another fine season from Swick, however, her leadership may be as important as her tennis skills because LCC lost six senior starters from last year’s squad. Many of the new varsity members put the work in throughout the summer, which should pay off during the season.

Lima Senior

Division: I

Head coach, years at school: Deb Williams, sixth season

Last year’s finish: Last in Greater Buckeye Conference

Returning letterwinners: B. Johnson (singles), Amy Reed (singles), Kelsey Conoway (doubles), Emily Steepleton (doubles/singles)

Season outlook: Lima Senior is looking for its four returnees to help improve upon last season’s finish.

Ottawa-Glandorf

Division: II

Head coach, years at school: Ken Pollitz, third season

Returning letterwinners: Mandi Utendorf (senior), Jenna Schroeder (senior), Mary Wischmeyer (senior), Kristen Zender (junior), Katelyn Utendorf (junior), Kari Leatherman (junior), Stacy Kahle (junior)

Key newcomers: Kathy Arnold (sophomore), Ashley Heckman (freshman), Jeanette Kaufman (freshman), Kim Kahle (freshman), Melissa Crumrine (freshman), Haley Inniger (freshman), Torie Allgire (freshman)

Season outlook: According to Pollitz, his players have worked hard over the summer and are hoping to improve on last season. The team is hoping to be more competitive, especially against the strength of the WBL.

Shawnee

Division: II

Head coach, years at school: Jim Curran, second season

Last year’s finish: 14-2 overall, 9-0 in WBL

Returning letterwinners: Vidhi Madan (senior, first singles), Lauren Rovner (sophomore, second singles), Amanda Lawson (junior, second doubles), Melinda Mate (junior, second doubles), Somya Bulusu (junior, first doubles), Taylor Worman (sophomore), Rumya Bulusu (senior), Grace Baird (senior).

Promising Newcomers: Tomi Ojo (freshman), Lindsey McKinley (sophomore).

Season outlook: The Indians return a strong core of players led by Madan, who turned in a strong showing in 2008. According to Curran, the team is resilient but must get consistent and learn to adjust to different hitting styles.

St. Marys

Division: II

Head coach, years at school: Brice Brenneman, 15th season

Last year’s finish: 13-4 overall, 7-2 third in WBL

Returning letterwinners: Megan Dominik (senior), Lydia Krugh (senior, doubles), Mariah Krugh (sophomore, singles); Amanda Rupard (senior, singles)

Key Newcomers: Jenna Eberle (senior), Haley Kill (junior, doubles), Alex Spencer (sophomore), Allie Zimmerman (sophomore), Jenna Eberle (senior)

Season outlook: Dominik returns as a four-year starter after finishing second in WBL singles play a year ago. The Roughriders return a strong senior class. Brenneman said the team was very competitive last year and expects the same this season.

Wapakoneta

Division: I

Head coach, years at school: Mike Klock, N/A

Last year’s finish: 6-9, sixth in WBL

Returning letterwinners: Ricki Oen (singles), Ashley Beach (singles), Mackenzie Klock (singles), Olivia Nelson (singles/doubles)

Season outlook: Wapakoneta will look for build around a strong returning nucleus.