Women's Tennis Kicks Off 2010 Season in Florida
2/5/2010 6:01:00 PM | Women's Tennis
Despite coming off the best season in women's tennis history since 1997 and only losing three players from 2009, Georgia Southern will face a different kind of threat in 2010 – the threat of not making the year-end Southern Conference Tournament. Due to economic considerations, the Southern Conference reformatted the tournament advancing only the top four teams at the end of regular-season competition into the four-team field.
“We want to make the tournament, that's our biggest goal this season,” said sixth-year head coach Amy Bonner. “Our seniors want to go out on a high note and this team has made a commitment to reach the tournament however that happens.”
The journey for the Southern Conference Tournament berth begins at the top. Bonner welcomes back three seniors in Christine Caforio (Acworth, Ga.), Jessica Fuller (Cartersville, Ga.) and Kristi Kegerreis (Fairfax, Va.) to the forefront of the Eagles in 2010. Kegerreis returns after leading the Eagles from the top singles position in 2008-09, one of four starting singles position players returning.
Joining the senior company will be juniors Ali Beavers (Kingsport, Tenn.) and Melanie Rolle (Gainesville, Fla.) to complete the cast of returners. Beavers starred at No. 2 singles going 11-7 in dual action, while Rolle owned the No.4 position with an unblemished record of 14-0. Rolle capped off her sophomore campaign earning the first All-Conference honor since 2003 being named second team.
Providing extensive depth to the roster in 2010, five newcomers join the squad vying for playing time. Ashley Hungerford (Clearwater, Fla.) transferred in from Florida Southern holding junior class status as Allison Beeler (Alpharetta, Ga.), Taylor Jones (Warner Robins, Ga.), Alexandra Langmo (Boca Raton, Fla.) and Natalie Maffett (Rome, Ga.) comprise the freshmen class.
“Our five newcomers will give us a lot more depth this year,” stated Bonner. “They are all very strong players, and not only add depth, but give us five different game styles to add to our roster.”
Vacant after the loss of 2009's senior class is two singles spots and doubles components. With a roster of 10, each spot is open, leaving intensified practices and the importance of performing well during fall competition.
“The five newcomers have definitely benefitted us, not just in giving us a wide range of doubles options, but by motivating and pushing our returners to work even harder to secure their starting position and improve their games.”
The Eagles open the 2010 dual season on the road, February 6-7 at Florida Atlantic and Stetson in a weekend of action. The battle for a tournament berth officially gets underway March 6 in Statesboro against Western Carolina. The match marks the first of five straight at home for the Eagles.
In the 2009 dual season, Georgia Southern went 13-7 overall, 7-3 in conference play and 8-2 while at home. The recorded season stands as the best in program history since 1997, an accomplishment the Eagles look to surpass in 2010.
“Our returners have seen and helped build this program over the years and last year topped it off for them. They know what a great year it was and enjoyed winning,” stated Bonner. “Last year will also motivate the newcomers who got to witness a team come off such a great season and see the effort that went into it. It's a team goal to better our performance this year and I am fully confident with the caliber of athletes we have, that we can reach our goals.”
“We want to make the tournament, that's our biggest goal this season,” said sixth-year head coach Amy Bonner. “Our seniors want to go out on a high note and this team has made a commitment to reach the tournament however that happens.”
The journey for the Southern Conference Tournament berth begins at the top. Bonner welcomes back three seniors in Christine Caforio (Acworth, Ga.), Jessica Fuller (Cartersville, Ga.) and Kristi Kegerreis (Fairfax, Va.) to the forefront of the Eagles in 2010. Kegerreis returns after leading the Eagles from the top singles position in 2008-09, one of four starting singles position players returning.
Joining the senior company will be juniors Ali Beavers (Kingsport, Tenn.) and Melanie Rolle (Gainesville, Fla.) to complete the cast of returners. Beavers starred at No. 2 singles going 11-7 in dual action, while Rolle owned the No.4 position with an unblemished record of 14-0. Rolle capped off her sophomore campaign earning the first All-Conference honor since 2003 being named second team.
Providing extensive depth to the roster in 2010, five newcomers join the squad vying for playing time. Ashley Hungerford (Clearwater, Fla.) transferred in from Florida Southern holding junior class status as Allison Beeler (Alpharetta, Ga.), Taylor Jones (Warner Robins, Ga.), Alexandra Langmo (Boca Raton, Fla.) and Natalie Maffett (Rome, Ga.) comprise the freshmen class.
“Our five newcomers will give us a lot more depth this year,” stated Bonner. “They are all very strong players, and not only add depth, but give us five different game styles to add to our roster.”
Vacant after the loss of 2009's senior class is two singles spots and doubles components. With a roster of 10, each spot is open, leaving intensified practices and the importance of performing well during fall competition.
“The five newcomers have definitely benefitted us, not just in giving us a wide range of doubles options, but by motivating and pushing our returners to work even harder to secure their starting position and improve their games.”
The Eagles open the 2010 dual season on the road, February 6-7 at Florida Atlantic and Stetson in a weekend of action. The battle for a tournament berth officially gets underway March 6 in Statesboro against Western Carolina. The match marks the first of five straight at home for the Eagles.
In the 2009 dual season, Georgia Southern went 13-7 overall, 7-3 in conference play and 8-2 while at home. The recorded season stands as the best in program history since 1997, an accomplishment the Eagles look to surpass in 2010.
“Our returners have seen and helped build this program over the years and last year topped it off for them. They know what a great year it was and enjoyed winning,” stated Bonner. “Last year will also motivate the newcomers who got to witness a team come off such a great season and see the effort that went into it. It's a team goal to better our performance this year and I am fully confident with the caliber of athletes we have, that we can reach our goals.”
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