2008 Tennis Season Preview
The 2007 season was one of the best in Meredith’s history with a 14-4 record and a NCAA tournament bid. In fall 2007 the Avenging Angels participated in the Meredith College Invitational, the ITA Fall Regional Tennis Championships, as well as the Methodist University Invitational, where they competed against several regionally and nationally ranked opponents. The Avenging Angels had strong showings in all three tournaments, and plan to continue developing and improving in order to be a top contender in the USA South Athletic Conference.
Coach Kelly Weaver believes that having a strong team attitude in a typically individual sport such as tennis is what helped make last year’s team so successful.
“The team has done a great job of supporting one another and they know they will need to work together as a team in order to reach their goal of bringing Meredith a USA South Conference Championship,” said Weaver.
With all starters returning from the 2007 season and a deep incoming freshman class, Weaver believes that this year’s team has incredible potential.
“With the experience our team gained last year, combined with the new talent we have brought in, we are looking to make our mark in the conference and continue to build this already strong program,” said Weaver.
Returnees
This spring Meredith tennis returns eight players from last year’s squad and adds three incoming freshmen to the team. Seniors Meredith Roberson, Sydney Williford and Morgan Martin all demonstrated their leadership capabilities last year and will serve as tri-captains for the 2007-08 season.
“Meredith and Sydney have been a part of the Meredith tennis program since their freshman year, and those experiences will give the other girls on the team something to draw from. Morgan transferred here last spring and is a natural competitor. The combination of the three makes for an incredibly powerful trio,” said Weaver.
Other returning starters include sophomore Kathryn Maples, sophomore Amanda Bitler and junior Caitlin Dillon.
“Kathryn’s determination as well as her poise on the court earned her a spot high in the line-up early on as a freshman,” Coach Weaver said.
Sophomore Amanda Bitler and Junior Caitlin Dillon add depth to the Avenging Angel squad. Bitler ended the spring 2007 season with a 15-1 record mainly at the number five singles spot. Dillion played mostly at the number six singles position and proved to be the key match in determining some of the Avenging Angels toughest wins.
Incoming Class
This year’s incoming class consists of talented freshmen who are eager to make their mark for the Avenging Angels. Freshman Molly Parks, Cuyler Wells and Zannah Webster each enter their first official season with the Avenging Angels with incredible willingness to learn and contribute to the team, and all have the potential to break into the starting line-up.
“I am excited to work with these young players and help them develop their games over the next four years. Most of these players have played multiple sports in high school and have demonstrated their athleticism and team attitude from the beginning. They all have bright futures ahead of them here at Meredith,” said Weaver.
Schedule
This is the first year of conference play for the Avenging Angels in the competitive USA South Athletic Conference. The team is excited to test themselves within the conference and beyond.
“We are excited to build rivalries within the conference and be able to compete at the end of our season in a conference tournament,” said Weaver.
The team begins conference play away against N.C. Wesleyan on March 18, and has its first home conference match against fellow new member Mary Baldwin on March 21. In addition to a strong conference schedule, the Avenging Angels will take on highly-ranked teams such as University of Mary Washington, Roanoke College, Elizabethtown College and Huntingdon College to prepare them for conference play. The Avenging Angels will spend their spring break in Hilton Head where they will play three matches and prepare for their upcoming competitive spring schedule.
