Central College women’s tennis season outlook
Central College
Outlook
Eager is an understatement.
With more than half of the Central College women’s tennis lineup up for grabs, coach Steve Tyler is tired of waiting for the squad to set foot on campus.
“I’m ready to find out who we are,” Tyler said. “I’m ready to really see what everyone has done over the summer and the work they put in. I’m cautiously optimistic for the season.”
Three of last year’s top six players from a 10-7 squad that finished fifth in the Iowa Conference have graduated. That includes all-conference honorees Sara Dale and Stephanie Gibbons, last season’s top two singles players and top doubles pair.
“Those will be big losses,” Tyler said. “We’re going to have to have some returners step up and possibly have two or three freshmen in the top six.”
Last year’s Nos. 3 and 4 singles players, seniors Emily Swartz and Kayla Donner, will transition into the top slots.
“They’ll lead out and vie for Nos. 1 and 2,” Tyler said. “They both compete well in the Iowa Conference and have proven they’re more than capable of playing at that level.”
Swartz compiled an 11-8 record at No. 3 last season.
“Emily is a tremendous competitor and is very confident,” Tyler said. “As a concert pianist and pipe organist, she’s used to performing and is comfortable on stage.”
Last year’s co-winner of the DeHaan MVP Award, Donner finished 14-5 at No. 4 and tied the school record for most singles wins in a season. She earned conference honors as a Flight A quarterfinalist in last season’s singles tournament and was a 2008 and 2009 all-league pick in doubles play.
“Kayla is just a great athlete and can play with anybody,” Tyler said.
The next four singles spots are for the taking.
“Everything else will be contested and we’ll have challenge matches right away,” Tyler said.
Junior Chelsea Johnson, the squad’s most improved player, could slide up a few notches after going 12-3 at No. 6 singles last season. Senior Riley Taylor will have a shot after being mostly limited to No. 3 doubles last year, where she was 8-11.
“Both Chelsea and Riley could move up in the order if they worked hard over the summer and improved,” Tyler said.
Nicole Curran, Blake Taylor, Cairn Reisch and Sam Wills return as sophomores and could press for court time.
Tyler is also relying on his six rookies.
“I’m well assured the freshman class has the skills to fill the holes,” he said. “As long as they have a positive attitude, work hard and are energetic athletes, we’ll do just fine.”
In doubles play, Swartz and Donner will team at No. 1. The tandem was 14-5 in the No. 2 spot last year and broke a school record for most doubles wins in a season.
“They know each other well and are strong players,” Tyler said. “I’m confident they’ll succeed.”
Finding the pairs for Nos. 2 and 3 doubles is Tyler’s biggest task.
“The momentum gained from doubles play is so critical,” Tyler said. “All of our matches start with doubles and if you can take two or three wins, you’re in such a positive position going into singles play.
“With two inexperienced doubles teams we’ve got our work cut out for us,” he said. “But that’s the fun of it too.”
Tyler says young squads will be common around the league.
“It will be a rebuilding year for the entire conference,” he said. “Many schools were hard hit by graduation and the league lost a lot of good players.”
And Tyler can’t wait to see where the Dutch will finish.
“It’s really exciting to have this young of a squad and to see what they’re made of.”
