Tennis Preview

NWU tennis teams are ready to go this year, with both men's and women's teams coming off GPAC titles from last spring.

Starting with the defending conference champion women, who come off a 12-11 season, (7-2 GPAC) a rebuilding season is expected as some key seniors were lost from last year, including All-GPAC players Mikayla Albin at No. 1 singles, Mikaela Caudill at No. 4 singles, Sarah Howe and All-GPAC honorable mention Becca Brown. Don't
count the women's team out of contention for a repeat, though, as young players continue to improve and make a name for themselves.

"Last year we lost four out of our top six girls, so we were obviously a little worried about the season, but we have some amazing freshmen, and everyone else has really stepped up this year," says Chelsea Henslee, a returning sophomore All-GPAC
player at No. 2 singles and No. 2 doubles.

Returning players from the GPAC championship team include Henslee and Lexi Zoucha, an honorable mention All-GPAC player last spring. As far as training plans in the winter go, a new lifting program and court time is how the women will keep form.

"This winter, we are starting conditioning and a lifting program, which is something we
have never really done before," says Henslee. The winter offseason wasn't too long though, as the P-Wolves started back as soon as the spring semester of school began after Christmas break.

On the men's side, the same rebuilding year will be necessary to replace what last year was a dominating team at the conference tournament. Every NWU player earned an All-Conference honor and last year's No.1 singles player was Jamie Holmes.

"I don't think we'll be as strong as last year, primarily because we won't have Jaimie
Holmes, who was our No. 1 single last year," says tennis coach Dr. Rick Harley, who last year was selected as the Hauff Mid-America Sports/ GPAC Coach of the Year.

Although the team is young, with no seniors this year, big contributions are expected
from returning sophomore Nathan Hoppe, an All-GPAC selection last year, as well as returning junior and GPAC honorable mention Michael Larson.

Team chemistry is a vital part of success, and Coach Dr. Rick Harley says, "The kids all get along real well. With no seniors this year, they have a great junior class to look up to."

With the women, Henslee says, "even though we haven't spent much time together, we
will be a strong team. We will catch a lot of other teams off guard."