 "Photo: N/A")
Last season, the women's tennis team compiled winning records in each of the No. 1-5 singles spots. In the spring portion, with everyone playing up a spot because of then-freshman Maggi Schutte's knee injury, the top five spots each had at least a .500 record.
Fast-forward to this season, the women return their top five players — including Schutte, who likely will play in one of the top two spots.
"We're going to be pretty deep singles," Schutte said. "Our top five or six, we're all pretty level. Once you get there and other teams start breaking up, depth is going to be huge in the singles lineup."
The Bulldogs, who had a 12-6 dual meet record in 2009-10, open the season Sept. 8 at William Jewell University. The home opener is Sept. 17 at the Truman Invitational.
Schutte likely will anchor the top of the lineup along with senior Amy Ochs, who gained experience in the top two spots last season. Junior Ellen Russell, senior Kelsey Kuykendall and junior Dagmar Velez will fill out the top five singles spots.
In doubles, Ochs and Russell most likely will play together for the third straight season, while Kuykendall and Velez could pair up at No. 2 for the second straight year.
"I think it'll be good from a confidence perspective," Schutte said of the experience. "This year having a few seniors who have been here for a while, and especially for me being healthy, adds a lot of confidence to my game."
Each of the four returning upperclassmen have at least two years of regular experience in the lineup, which gives the women experience to go with their depth. Add that to last year's experience at a higher spot in the lineup, and the women could improve on their 5-4 first-round exit against University of Nebraska-Omaha in last year's MIAA Tournament.
"It certainly gave experience to a couple girls who wouldn't have been in the lineup — that's where you really gain experience," head coach Pete Kendall said. "The other girls were going to be playing anyway.
"They are going to either be the same or real close to the same as they have been."
The men's team enters the season with an opposite look to their lineup. The team graduated six seniors, including the top two doubles teams and the top three regular singles players.
This year's team features six freshmen and only four returners — three per semester because junior Mark Sturley and senior Colin Boswell each will take a semester off to study abroad.
"It is a lot different," Boswell said. "Our team just looks so much different. Right now, we're trying to get our challenge matches figured out and seeing where everybody is going to end up. Our approach isn't really that much different. We still practice the same."
Because of all the freshmen, Kendall said the lineup could change throughout the season. Junior Eric McCollough, who had a 9-3 record at No. 4 singles last season, likely will anchor the No. 1 slot. Boswell had an 11-9 record in 2009 while playing primarily No. 5.
"We might have it where we think we want it by the first match, but I don't know that for sure," Kendall said. "First thing is to obviously try to get the lineup in as good of order as we can, secondly is to figure out the doubles teams."
The men also start the season at William Jewell, before their home opener Sept. 14 against Missouri Baptist University on Truman's renovated tennis courts. The courts are scheduled to be complete the week of Sept. 13 and will be blue and green.
is a member of the 
Be the first to comment on this article! Log in to Comment
You must be logged in to comment on an article. Not already a member? Register now