2010 Prep girls tennis team preview capsules

CATHOLIC CENTRAL

Coach: Bill Herzog, fifth season.

Last year: 17-2, 4-0 OHC.

Returnees: Seniors — Frannie Trempe, Bethany Canestraro; Junior — Renae Pavlatos.

Newcomers: Juniors — Allison Brougher, Katie Mitchell; Sophomore — Cathy Kurian; Freshmen — Allison Lough, Brandi Lyons, Brenna McCombs.

FYI: Last year produced the best winning record in Herzog's coaching reign, which included a first-place finish in the Carroll Invitational.

Coach's comment: "I'm excited to get this season started. The girls have worked hard to get ready for this season. I look for the newcomers to learn as we go and the returning players to fill the holes left by the four seniors we lost to graduation. I look for

Frannie to transition easily to No. 1 singles and be a leader this season.”

GREENEVIEW

Coach: Troy Terrill, second season.

Last year: N/A.

Returnees: Senior — Laura Qureshi; Juniors — Emily Ellis, Allison Guyton, Allison Hormann, Karli Maynard; Sophomores — Caitlyn Wilson, Heather Weidel, Julia Benson.

Newcomers: Sophomores — Logan Carter, Lindsey Thomas; Freshmen — Brittanie Bryan, Sharron Combs.

FYI: Benson and Guyton, the second doubles team last season, are the Rams' lone retrurnees with varsity experience. Benson will play No. 1 singles, with Maynard at No. 2 and Ellis at No. 3. Guyton should join Hormann at first doubles.

Coach's comment: "It's definitely a rebuilding season. We have a tough schedule. Our goal is not going to be wins and losses. Our goal is to work on our mental game because we will be outmanned in many matches. If we can hang in there and improve our swing, maybe we can get a couple nice wins by the end of the year."

GREENON

Coach: Steve Wilson, second season.

Last year: 0-18, 0-15 CBC.

Returnees: Senior — Alex Thompson; Juniors — Jamie Melton, Sara Thatcher, Lindsey Strickland.

Newcomers: Junior — Meaghan Graver; Freshmen — Megan Reed, Shelby Marshall, Kirsten Diviak, Marissa Brown, Shawn McMann, Kassie Lambert.

FYI: Thompson returns as the Knights' first singles player.

Coach's comment: "This is the first year we are actually starting to build. With this many freshmen, it is going to be exciting to see where they will be in a year or two. Our returners are improved, and the future is bright. The people in the Greenon community know that they have a program coming. Everything is in place for it to shine in the next two or three years."

KENTON RIDGE

Coach: Sherri Bennett, 14th season.

Last year: 6-12, 6-10 CBC.

Returnees: Seniors — Kayla Powell, Tyra Black, Kelsey Byers; Juniors — Karishma Nezhad, Megan Schmitt, Hannah Benston, Brigette Castiaux; Sophomore — Franzsika Pippig.

Newcomers: Juniors — Emma Sellers, Elizabeth DeSalle.

FYI: Schmitt and Benston played second and third singles, respectively, last season. Schmitt will move up to No. 1 and Benston will be at No. 2.

Coach's comment: "Castiaux and Pippig have come on in the offseason, too, so they will see a lot of varsity time this year. We'd like to improve on our record last year. Building confidence is going to help. A lot of them have developed the stroke, they just don't have the point structure yet. I would consider us as still rebuilding."

NORTHEASTERN

Coach: Jane Warren, 17th season.

Last year: 10-5, 2-2 OHC.

Returnees: Seniors — Lindsey Haerr, Sara Bradam; Juniors — Amber Blanton, Lauren Davy, Sarah Flach, Priscilla Finchum, Kirsten Hoke, Jessica Jones, Molly Parker, Shelby Miller; Sophomores — Mara Elder, Brittney Gragg, Carley Stites, Justine Whitley.

Newcomers: Junior — Tiffany Richner; Sophomore — Samantha Dennin; Freshmen — Jessica Bowen, Amanda Boetticher, Maranda Rusk, Halley Hinderer.

FYI: The Jets had 19 girls out last season and have 20 on the team this season. District qualifier Davy, who was 10-9 as a freshman and 13-6 last season, will return at No. 1 singles after finishing fourth in sectional. Haerr, who played second singles and first doubles, also returns and will play second singles. Flach is the other varsity returnee.

Coach's comment: "As our No. 1 singles player, Lauren is the strength from which we form our team. She spent a big part of last year with an injured wrist, so she's just happy being healthy right now. She paid her dues this past offseason and is ready to go. Last year was one of our better records, so we ultimately want to have a winning record. Equalling last year's record might be a difficult request."

NORTHWESTERN

Coach: Linda Bednar, 18th season.

Last year: 16-2, 14-2 CBC.

Returnees: Seniors — MacKenzie Jenkins, Kathy Hua, Chelsea Diamond, Brianna Moore, Christy McCarty, Emilee Johnson; Juniors — Helen Hua, Hayley Sullivan.

Newcomer: Senior — Sam Lindner.

FYI: Returning sectional runner-up Jenkins, 16-2 last season, will again fill the first singles slot. Kathy Hua (second singles in 2009) and Diamond (third singles in 2009) also are back.

Coach's comment: "We're hoping to be major contenders for the CBC, even though several of the teams are improved. Tipp is still the team to beat. Being heavy on the seniors, I'd say it's our best shot we've had in awhile (at a league title)."

SHAWNEE

Coach: Alyssa Peterson, first season.

Last year: 14-5, 11-5 CBC.

Returnees: Seniors — Lexie Crisp, Sara Zinn; Juniors — Brianna Noll, Marissa Knowles; Sophomores — Kenzie Detrick, Megan Oxner, Cassie Beam, Shari Hedrick.

Newcomers: Freshmen — Brittany Duff, Emily King, Maneka Long, Ellie Marshall.

FYI: Detrick, 17-3 at No. 2 singles in 2009, moves up to the No. 1 singles slot. Crisp and Knowles, 13-7 last season at first doubles, will return to hold that slot again. Peterson coached at Tecumseh three seasons with the boys and one season with the girls. She replaces Barb Rollins, who coached for five seasons at Shawnee and 15 overall.

Coach's comment: "Unfortunately, losing so many seniors, I've had to ask our younger girls to step up to the plate and fill some gaps. My goal is for them is to always do the best they can do, and if we can win while doing that, it just makes it all the better in the end."

SPRINGFIELD

Coach: Deanna Brougher, fourth season.

Last year: 8-11, 1-4 GWOC Central.

Returnees: Seniors — Audrey Chitkara, Caroline Jochum, Hira Bashir, Carrie Lama; Juniors — Manisha Nezhad, Nikkee Amin; Sophomores — Sarah Chaudhry, Erika Bardnell, Saarah Khan, Ayesha Mohammed, Simra Ranginwala.

Newcomers: Senior — Olivia Montgomery, Eva Lagos; Sophomores — Rachel Penwell, Roma Chokshi; Freshmen — Unum Ranginwala, Nadisha Nezhad, Joy Rader, Ellen Jochum, Kristin Campbell, Nadia Fyed.

FYI: Nezhad returns as the Wildcats' first singles player. The other two singles slots are up for grabs, as Chitkara, Khan, Simra Ranginwala and Bashir could see some action.

Coach's comment: "The program is growing with 11 returning players. Our depth should allow us to be more competitive this year, and I'm looking forward to a great season."

TECUMSEH

Coach: Jenny Culbertson, third season.

Last year: 4-16, 4-12 CBC.

Returnees: Seniors — Amanda Neri, Madison King, Brittney Sanning, Allie West, Jenna Sanford; Juniors — Katie Gracy, Sydney Back, Amber Koepnic, Torry DeWitt; Sophomore — Kylee Rodgers.

Newcomers: Senior — Lisa Buchhalter; Juniors — Krista Johnson, Sarah McCabe; Sophomore — Krystyna Boswell.

FYI: Neri and King both played singles in 2009, sometimes at the No. 1 slot. Back and Gracy also will see some singles time.

Coach's comment: "We're trying to improve on the wins. I see a little more consistency and a lot more of that drive. In the past, it was more for fun. The nucleus we have does want to do better now. Some of these girls have a couple of years under they belts, nd that experience should help."

URBANA

Coach: Cindy Eickhoff, third season.

Last year: 12-7, 10-6 CBC.

Returnees: Seniors — Alicia Benavides, Elizabeth Brugger, Lauren McCurdy, Brooke Sizemore, Rachel Townsley; Sophomores — Kayla Pena, Hayley Fannin, Lauren Coffman.

Newcomers: Seniors — Kenzy Karnehm, Sara King; Sophomores — McKenzie Fannin, Alex McDonald; Freshmen — Sarah Foster, Hannah Zerkle, Savanna Burcham, Tessa McManamay, Kayle Burchnell, Beth Lawson, Lauren Ansley.

FYI: Casey Evans, last year's second singles player, did not return this season. Benavides should be in the No. 1 singles slot.

Coach's comment: "Our strength is our coaching staff and senior leadership. It's a good group of girls. I look to do a little better than last year."

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