Coaches Select Transylvania as HCAC Women’s Tennis Favorite

GREENWOOD, IN – Transylvania University’s women’s tennis team has been unanimously selected as the front runner to win the 2010 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference championship. In a poll of the nine HCAC head coaches, the Pioneers received a maximum total of 81 points and all nine first place votes.

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology placed second in the poll with 63 points, while Franklin College is picked to finish third in the conference standings this fall with 62 points.  Hanover College (46 points), Anderson University (44), Earlham College (36), College of Mount St. Joseph (35), Manchester College (28), and Defiance College (10) round out the poll.

The Pioneers are coming off a 12-3 season and 7-0 conference record in 2009, claiming their first conference championship. Transy won the HCAC Tournament and fell in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to Vassar, ending their season.

Coach Chuck Brown returns four First-Team All-HCAC selections to the Transy lineup this fall.  Junior Kelsey Fulkerson (Lexington, Ky./Dunbar) and senior Katie Boone (Lancaster, Ohio/Fisher Catholic) each notched 5-1 records at No. 1 and 2 singles, while teaming up for a 4-2 mark at No. 1 doubles last season.  Senior Sarah Ridley (Henderson, Ky./H.S.) had a perfect junior season, posting a 6-0 overall singles record at No. 3 and 4 singles and a 4-0 record in doubles action. Junior Stephanie Townsend (Goshen, Ky./North Oldham) held an overall record of 9-3 last fall, playing at No. 3 and 4 singles and No. 2 doubles.

Rose-Hulman will look to challenge the Pioneers for the HCAC crown this fall.  The Engineers will have to try and fill the void left by four-time HCAC Most Valuable Player Sam Danesis.  Senior Megan Chann (Columbia, Mo./Rock Bridge) returns to the lineup after earning First-Team All-HCAC honors a year ago.  Chann held a 5-1 record at No. 4 singles and a 6-1 mark at No. 2 doubles last fall.   RHIT also returns a trio of Honorable Mention All-HCAC players from last year’s squad.  Sophomores Sage Sackett (Kalamazoo, Mich./Mattawan) and Melissa Montgomery (Alexandria, Ind./Monroe) join junior Klara Schroederus (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South) in a quest for the school’s first HCAC crown.

Franklin College finished third last fall behind the Pioneers and Engineers and have been selected to finish in the same position by the coaches this season.  The Grizzlies return two First-Team All-HCAC members, including the conference’s Freshman of the Year Heather Pasek (Villa Hills, Ky./Notre Dame Academy).  Pasek posted a 9-4 overall record last fall, competing at No. 1 and 2 singles and No. 2 doubles.  Senior Kayli Schafer (Mooresville, Ind./H.S.) earned a 6-1 singles record during the 2009 campaign, playing at No. 1, 2, and 3 singles.

The 2010 women’s tennis season is set to begin on August 27.

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