SELINSGROVE, (Pa.) — The Susquehanna University women’s tennis team returns four letterwinners and three starters, and the addition of some talented freshmen has sixth-year head coach Bob Jordan optimistic that his team can improve upon back-to-back 3-9 seasons. The Crusaders were 2-5 and finished sixth in the Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth League a year ago.
The 1999 Crusaders open their season Thursday with a 4 p.m. match at King’s.
“Last year was a disappointing season, but in respect laid good foundations and positive attitudes for the others,” said Jordan. “It’s ’anyone’s guess, but we have great depth and I believe have a chance at a possible top-three finish in our league and a chance at finishing 8-5 or better.”
Jordan is counting on the senior leadership of co-captains, Sarah Curley (Montrose/Elk Lake H.S.) and Meghan McGinnis (Washington Crossing/Council Rock H.S.).
McGinnis is the team’s best player, and was its most successful overall last year. She improved to 7-5 at number-one singles after going just 3-7 there in her first year. Her greatest success has come as a doubles player as she teamed up with now graduated Amy Himmelberger to earn the number-one seed at last year’s MAC Individual Championships before finishing at 10-4 on the year. The team of McGinnis and Himmelberger advanced to the conference semifinals for a second straight year before bowing out to the eventual champs.
Curley has had the team’s top singles’ record over the past two seasons at 13-8, primarily playing at number-two. She went 8-4 a year ago, including a win at the MAC Championships before falling. Curley also teamed up with four different partners in doubles last season to go 4-7 — primarily at number-two.
“The return of numbers one (McGinnis) and two (Curley) from last season is having some positive effects on our talented class of freshmen,” said Jordan.
Among the seven freshmen, Jordan believes the best of the group is the duo of Carley Kellet (Binghamton, N.Y./Chenango Valley H.S.) and Katy Moritz (York/York Suburban H.S.), who he believes will be playing in either the third or fourth singles spots. They also are expected to be in the doubles lineup.
Sophomore Caroline Li (Highland Park, N.J./Highland Park H.S.) and junior Alyssa Miller (Sellersville/Pennridge H.S.) are Susquehanna’s other returning starters.
Li played well in her debut collegiate season. She played primarily between numbers four and five in singles last season, winning three of her 11 matches. She also finished with a 3-3 mark while playing with a different partner each time in doubles.
Miller was a spot starter a year ago and won just one of her five matches, with three of them coming at number-six. She is expected to be improved after gaining some valuable experience a year ago.
Senior Becky Kagan (Jersey Shore/Jersey Shore H.S.) is also back after studying abroad last fall and was 3-8 as a starting singles player in 1997. Like Li and Miller last season, she played anywhere from fourth to sixth singles two seasons ago. Kagan also played doubles in ’97, winning just one of five matches with her two partners.
Junior Alyssa Jones (Pennsburg/Upper Perkiomen H.S.) also is a two-year returning letterwinner who went 1-3 with three different partners in doubles last season. She teamed up with Kagan for four of her five doubles matches in ’97.
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