Season Outlook

Nick McLean

The Wittenberg University MEN'S tennis team heads into the the 2005 spring season hoping to build some momentum and cultivate that winning attitude with a young team that includes just one senior.

The Tigers are led by No. 1 singles and doubles player Shane Hutton (Charleston, W.Va./Charleston Catholic), a junior who has been in the starting lineup each year at Wittenberg. He has moved up from sixth singles as a freshman to second singles the majority of the 2003-04 season to first singles in 2004-05. He frequently played the top singles spot last year as well.

The team's lone senior is Ben Burkam (Delaware, Ohio/Hayes), who bounced in and out of the lineup a year ago and figures in a crowded mix again in 2004-05. He is jockeying with juniors Brian Pierce (Dayton, Ohio/Oakwood), Nick McLean (Port Clinton, Ohio/Port Clinton)and Steve Wilson (Springfield, Ohio/Shawnee), sophomore John Shields (New Kensington, Pa./Valley) and freshman Ryan Snyder (Trotwood, Ohio/Madison) for playing time at both the singles and doubles positions. All six players are very even, giving the Tigers strength and consistency throughout their lineup.

Sarah Fassler

On the WOMEN'S side, the Tigers are led by seniors Sarah Fassler (Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Ursula) and Emily Figel (Fort Wayne, Ind./Homestead), who has returned for the spring season after studying abroad during the fall semester. Both players already have three letters to their credit, as well as All-North Coast Athletic Conference honors. Figel has been the team's No. 1 singles and doubles player in every match since stepping on campus.

Junior Kristyn Russell (Loveland, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame) is back as a starter for the third straight season, and she will likely be playing both singles and doubles. Junior Mallory Meyer (Lake Forest, Ill./Darien (Conn.)), a doubles starter in 2003-04, steps into the singles starting lineup and will team with Fassler at the No. 2 doubles position.

Rounding things out, a pair of talented freshmen have stepped into the lineup and appear to be providing much-needed depth. Emily Okerson (Cincinnati, Ohio/Anderson) has been playing at No. 3 singles and No. 1 doubles, teaming with Figel, while Ashley Schnedl (Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Ursula) has settled in at the No. 6 singles and No. 3 doubles positions. Both had winning records coming out of the fall season and Spring Break trip.