Women’s Tennis Looking to Take Next Step in 2016

HUNTINGDON, Pa.- The Juniata women's tennis team enters the 2016 season with plenty of promise. The Eagles are coming off their most successful season in program history a year ago as they went 14-6 overall and 5-2 in the Landmark Conference. Juniata was one point away from moving on to the Landmark Championship but did go on to win the inaugural ECAC Championship.

While five players return from last year's team, the lineup will have a different look.  With the departure of Heather Waring at first singles, freshman Lauren Lucas (Hollidaysburg, Pa./Altoona Area) will occupy that position. First year head coach Chauncey Nixon describes her as strong. "She is bigger, stronger, and faster than most of the people she is going to compete against," he noted. He does admit there will be challenges.

At second singles will be junior Rachel Yurchisin (Cleveland, Ohio/Padua Franciscan). A Landmark Second Team selection in doubles play, Yurchisin posted an 11-12 record in singles play and a 12-12 record in doubles.

The third flight will be occupied by freshman Nora Tsai (New Taipei City, Taiwan). Nixon feels the addition of Tsai puts his team over the top. He says that she needs to get ahold of the competitive environment and that it will be a learning curve for her.

A pair of seniors will assume spots at fourth and fifth flights. Mitsuki Koh (Cupertino, Calif./Monta Vista) is coming of a 2015 campaign that saw her go 12-9 at fourth singles and 17-7 in doubles. Her 4-0 performance in the ECAC Tournament garnered her Most Outstanding Player honors. Tori Gray (York, Pa/Central York) was 3-2 in limited time last season and 3-1 in conference play. She picked up a big win for Juniata last year as she was the deciding match in a 5-4 win for JC over Catholic.

At sixth singles is Katharine Conklin (Freehold, N.J./Freehold Township). Conklin posted a 12-11 overall record playing mostly at third flight last year.

Also seeing time on the court is returning junior Sam Hendricks (McVeytown, Pa./Mifflin County) and freshman Vienna Cordier (Medford, N.J./Shawnee). Hendricks had a breakthrough sophomore campaign as she went 17-5 at fifth and sixth singles. Nixon said he feels comfortable putting her on the court wherever needed. He says that Cordier is going to develop and play and will be challenged to get in.

Nixon feels his team can contend for the conference title. "Knowing how close they were last year, we are definitely a better team in every position in the lineup," he said. "I expect them to win the conference and to shock people."

Juniata opens its season on Friday against Salisbury. The following day, the Eagles will face Bridgewater.