Season Outlook

Emily Nash

After posting a 10-7 overall record, including a sixth-place finish in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) Tournament, in 2007-08, the Wittenberg women's tennis team appears primed to take a step forward this spring.

First-year head coach Justin Stuckey, Wittenberg's first-ever full-time tennis coach, infused enthusiasm into a program that returns four regulars from last spring's rotation during the fall campaign. Stuckey, a Cincinnati native, brings coaching experience from Wright State University after a successful collegiate playing career at Johnson C. Smith University (N.C.).

This year's version of the Tigers is headlined by senior Allison Earhart (Muncie, Ind./Yorktown), who returns as the team's No. 1 singles player. Earhart served as the Tigers' top flight performer in 2007-08, while also appearing on a doubles team that recorded a stellar 9-3 record.

Fellow senior Kat Sundstrom (Trafalgar, Ind./North Central) picked up an 8-6 singles mark last spring while performing primarily at the third flight. Sundstrom also finished with a 5-1 mark in doubles play.

Junior Emily Nash (Hilliard, Ohio/Davidson) landed a 10-5 singles record, collecting most of her wins in the fifth flight. Meanwhile, Nash worked with sophomore Jayne Miely (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) at No. 1 doubles to post a 3-5 record. Miely, the team's No. 2 singles player, and junior Sean Delaney (Powell, Ohio/Worthington Christian) paired up for the majority of the remaining top flight matches. Delaney also played as the Tigers' No. 6 singles for a portion of the season.

Six new faces add to the Tiger arsenal, including Krish Bonebrake (Crawfordsville, Ind./North Montgomery) and Alexandra Cummins (New Lebanon, Ohio/Dixie). Cummins finished 2-1 during a strong Tiger fall season, including a win over Division I competition. Jackie Stevens (Columbus, Ohio/Watterson), Kacia Nolan (Speedway, Ind./Speedway), Maggie Stewart (Bay Village, Ohio/Magnificat) and Anne Beauch (North Canton, Ohio/Massillon Jackson) also figure prominently in the team's spring season plans.

Wittenberg kicks off spring play with indoor matches against Division I Wright State and Division II Findlay before traveling to Hilton Head, S.C., for their annual spring break trip. Their return to Ohio kicks off with a road match against NAIA scholarship programs Ohio Dominican and Walsh before an NCAC match against national power Denison on Tuesday, March 31.