WOMEN'S TENNIS: Lady Eagles heading south for Nationals
By Jenny Fisher
IV Leader Editorial
AssistantWomen’s head tennis coach Steve Crick and his Lady Eagles are currently preparing for nationals, which will take place on May 4-10 at Texas A & M at College Station, TX. IVCC will be looking to improve on last year’s 12th place finish at the national tournament.
After going 12-0 during the regular season last fall and capturing the Region IV Division II title at Moraine Valley Community College, Crick feels his team will be very competitive.
“This team is very self-motivated,” said Crick. “By nature they are very competitive and they give every ounce of energy they have.”
The IVCC mentor will be counting on experience, as four of his six players will be returning to the national tournament. Leading the way will be Wendy Grabowski and Nicole Frkol, who play at #1 and #2 singles for the Lady Eagles. The two will team up and also compete at # 1 doubles.
Sophomore Sarah Smith (# 3 singles) and freshman Kathryn Hertzner (# 4 singles) will compete in their respective singles matches and then combine to play at # 2 doubles, Sophomore Heidi Hewitt will play at # 5 singles and freshman Melissa Avenarius at # 6 singles. Hewitt and Avenarius will then merge together and play at # 3 doubles.
Crick knows his team has an uphill battle for them, as they will be competing against some of the finest schools in the nation, but feels his squad can be successful.
“It would be very difficult for us to win nationals,” remarked Crick. “We are going to be playing against some exceptional athletes that have even been recruited from foreign countries,” he said. “They play all-year round and they are just very talented.
“I just want our team to play their best and improve on last year’s finish,” the coach said. “However, if we can finish higher than the other Illinois schools, then I feel that would show we are the best junior college in Illinois.”