Last year, the Saint Mary’s tennis team finished with a successful season going 17-7 on the season and 6-2. The team also went to the MIAA tournament, winning the semifinal but taking a loss in the final.
The team is now preparing to start their spring season but, as a split season sport, they have already had the taste of competition. The team defeated Concordia College in September but lost to Grace College in October.
Saint Mary’s welcomes back multiple different players and new players this season. The team welcomes back sole senior Alayna Campbell from Granger, Indiana who last year went 13-12 in singles, 18-8 in doubles and has an overall record of 31-20.
Also returning are two juniors, Hannah Gerner and Emma Kealy. Hailing from Crown Point, Indiana, Gerner finished last year with a singles record of 14-6, a doubles record of 14-9 and an overall record of 28-15. Gerner also finished the season earning the ITA All-Scholar Athlete Honors. Kealy, originally from Hudson, Ohio, finished her sophomore season going 18-9 in singles, 19-7 in doubles and has an overall record of 37-16.
Three sophomores are on the roster: Anna Gardener, Genevieve Brawner and Sophia Pischalko. Gardener, a Texas native, was key to the team last year as she finished with a 16-8 singles record, a doubles record of 22-6 and an overall record of 38-14. Gardener was runner up in B Doubles Bracket and took the ITA All-Scholar Athlete Honors Award. Brawner was out last year and competed and won one match.
Finally, the Belles welcome four freshmen to the team: Rachael Borg from Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, Lanie Brant from Stevensville, Michigan, Shannon Dudy from Glenview, Illinois and Indiana native Odessa Norton.
The Saint Mary’s tennis team will now prepare to kick-start their season on Feb. 8th against Huntington starting at 2p.m.
