The Grace College women's tennis team has a lot to be excited about in 2008. Last year, head coach Deron Datzman led the team to its second consecutive winning season at 8-4.
Five players will be returning from last year, including Kayla Semmerling, Natalie Rummel, Jessica Stolle, Alisha Anthony, and Meghan Redhair. Along with these five returnees, three recruits will be joining them on the roster.One of the returnees, sophomore Jessica Stolle from Troy, Ohio, will be coming back with the title of Mid-Central Conference No. 1 singles champion.
Last season, Stolle became the first Grace College women's tennis player to win conference with an undefeated record, as she was 15-0 overall and 8-0 in MCC play.
Grace's No. 3 player, Alisha Anthony, a sophomore from Bourbon, finished last season with a record of 7-4 overall and 4-4 in MCC play and will be returning once again this season.
Anthony is followed by senior Kayla Semmerling of Elkhart, who had a record of 7-4 overall and 4-4 in MCC play, placing her in the No. 4 spot.
The No. 6 player of the 2007 season, Meghan Redhair of Lower Burrell, Pennsylvania, finished last season with a record of 7-4 overall and 4-4 in MCC play.
On the doubles side, the Lancers will look to Semmerling, Anthony, Redhair and Rummel to contribute significantly as they will face another year of solid competition in the MCC.
"Although losing a few key players from last season, I have some solid freshman joining the team who should be able to contribute right from the start," said Datzman. "Amy Messer has doubles experience from her high school tennis career and both Kelli Hamstra and Jenessa Jergensen will come to Grace with solid tennis skills. I expect to have another good team that should remain competitive in all the matches we face this season."
The Lancers opened the season Thursday with a 9-0 win over Calumet of St. Joseph. Grace will be in action again Saturday in the Goshen Doubles Tournament.
