|
Red Hawks Strive To Improve Each Day
The Ripon tennis team made big strides last year, winning three matches, which was one more than the previous two seasons, combined. Two of those victories came via a 9-0 score, while the other was a nailbiting 5-4 victory over nearby Marian College. With just two players graduating from last year's team, the Red Hawks are hoping their experience will help them improve their win total yet again.
"The expectations of this team are to take the next step. Our biggest goal is to improve each year and if you look where we were three years ago compared to where we're at now, I think we've made great progress," said head coach John Dinegan. "The players all put in some extra practice time in the off-season and we have a nice blend of both experience returning and talented newcomers."
Five seniors are returning for their final year with the program. They will be led by Arielle Denis (Skokie, Ill./Niles North) and Kate Dricken (West Bend, Wis./West Bend East), who each have three years experience in singles play at the number three and six slots, respectively. That duo will be joined by fellow seniors Erin Gebhardt (Whitefish Bay, Wis./Whitefish Bay), Megan Petri (West Bend, Wis./West Bend West), and Meagan Sykes (Milwaukee, Wis./Thomas More), who will all look to crack the lineup.
"Everything is going to begin with our seniors," said Dinegan. "Arielle and Kate have both been a big part of the team for three years, so they will bring a lot of experience and leadership with them."
Juniors Chelsey Foster (Manitowoc, Wis./Manitowoc Roncali) and Kristine Jansen (Cottage Grove, Wis./Monona Grove) will also contribute this season after playing primarily at number two singles and number two doubles, respectively.
The sophomore class is more experienced than most, with all three of them earning plenty of playing time as freshmen. Brittany Sullivan (Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest) played number one singles during each match, winning twice, but gaining invaluable experience in the process. Fellow sophomores Megan Sockness (Cottage Grove, Minn./Park) and Brooke Deans (Dane, Wis./Lodi) will once again team up in doubles play, after going 2-9, playing mostly in the number three doubles slot.
"Brittany was a regular in last year's singles lineup and will be expected to contribute again this season, while Megan and Brooke were very steady at number three doubles and will hopefully take the next step, as they showed a lot of potential in practice last season," Dinegan said.
In addition to the returning players, there will be three newcomers in the mix for a spot in the lineup. Freshmen Michelle Roach (Jefferson, Wis./Jefferson) and Lauren Steurer (Rockton, Ill./Beloit) will battle for playing time, along with Josie Ullsperger (Fond du Lac, Wis./Fond du Lac), who is expected to contribute sooner, rather than later.
"Last year, we had a lot of players that had similar skills and we didn't have that strong player at the top of the lineup," said Dinegan. "Josie will come in and fill that void at the top of the singles lineup and will also play doubles for us."
Ripon has been more competitive in non-conference play during each of the past three seasons, but haven't won a Midwest Conference match since 2004. If they continue to follow the path they're on, they'll be able to compete in the MWC, which has been dominated by St. Norbert and Grinnell in recent years.
"Now is the time for us to start winning in the Midwest Conference. We had some success in our non-conference matches last year and we need to take that next step in the conference and become more competitive than we have been in the past," Dinegan said.
|
