Tennis team re-stocked for conference play

Rick Crossin
Sports Editor

The SIUE women's tennis team lost some key members of its team to graduation last year, but a good recruiting class should more than make up for the loss this season.

The Lady Cougars have three new additions to the 2000 squad - Coryn Reich, Amber Stanley and Laura Zeeb.

Zeeb is sophomore transfer from Quincy University who played high school tennis at Greenville High School.

Stanley is an All-State player out of Effingham High School and according to head coach Bill Logan, has a world of talent.

"First of all, she's All-State," Logan said. "She's got a strong ground game."

Both Reich and Stanley will have to adjust to college tennis quickly to help the team.

"I'm expecting a lot out of those two freshmen to add the strength of the team," Logan said.

Logan feels confident that his team has solidified its place in the Great Lakes Valley Conference even though a new class of players has entered into the mix.

"Last season, Northern Kentucky finished No. 1 in the conference and we finished No.2," Logan said. "I kind of feel that's the way it will be this year too."

Kim Mulherin, who is playing her last semester off college tennis, will be the leader for the Lady Cougars this season.

"She'll be the team leader and playing in the No. 1 position," Logan said.

The role of a leader is something that Mulherin cherishes and is used to.

"If I'm up, everybody else is up," Mulherin said. "Enthusiasm tends to rub off onto the other players."

Even with a mix of young players, Mulherin expects the Lady Cougars to play well.

"Actually, I expect us to be just as good, if not better than we were last year," Mulherin said.

Mulhern played much of the year as the No. 2 player on the team, behind Sarah Hardimon, who graduated in the spring.

The loss of Hardimon is twofold for SIUE because now Mulherin must adjust to a new doubles partner.

"I'm going to miss Sarah," Mulherin said. "It's easier to play with one of your best friends, but I'm also excited to play with some one new."

Not to be lost on the roster are returning players Keli Keener, Gretchen DeLaney and Kelly Wohltman.

Last season, Wohltman and Keener combined to go 10-8 in conference singles play, helping SIUE to an 8-2 overall mark in the conference.

The Wohltman/Keener duo excelled together on the court as well last season.

The doubles team was 7-3 in GLVC play last year, rivaled only by Mulherin and Hardimon who went 9-1 last season in conference play.

The first match for the Lady Cougars will be on Sept. 8 as SIUE travels to Louisville, Ky., to take on Bellarmine College.

The first home match for the team will not be until Sept. 16, when SIUE playes two matches against IUPU-Ft. Wayne and the University of Indianapolis ..