St. Scholastica is coaches' unanimous pick to win UMAC women's tennis title in 2011
2011 UMAC Women’s Tennis Preseason Coaches’ Poll
1. 25 Points - College of St. Scholastica (5 First Place Votes)
2. 20 Points - Northwestern College
3. 17 Points - Martin Luther College (1)
T-4. 10 Points - Bethany Lutheran College
T-4. 10 Points - University of Minnesota, Morris
6. 8 Points - North Central University
ST. PAUL -- The College of St. Scholastica, the 14 time league champion who has dominated Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) women’s tennis since its inception in 1997, was once again the unanimous choice by the conference coaches to win the title in 2011. The Saints earned 25 points in the preseason poll, five points above their nearest competitor.
1. College of St. Scholastica Saints
2010 Overall Record: 15-8
2010 UMAC Record: 10-0
2010 UMAC Finish: 1st
Starters Returning: 3
Starters Lost: 3
St. Scholastica is looking to return to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in five years after snapping a three-year streak last season. Saints head coach Wells Patten brings back just two seniors on this year’s roster after losing numerous seniors in the last two years. Callee Conda is one of those returning seniors who looks to lead the Saints this season. Conda has been an All-UMAC selection the past two seasons for St. Scholastica. Two seasons ago, Conda finished with 19 singles victories, which were the fifth-most in program history. The Saints’ other returning senior is Danni Sonnenfeld, who was an All-UMAC choice in 2010 and is currently 10th on the program’s list in career singles wins (35). Patten is also excited about returning juniors Ali Bernst and Liz Coyne as both will look to see more court time this season.
2. Northwestern College Eagles
2010 Overall Record: 9-10
2010 UMAC Record: 8-2
2010 UMAC Finish: 2nd
Starters Returning: 4
Starters Lost: 2
Despite returning four players from last year’s team that finished second at the UMAC Tournament, Northwestern will look much different at the top in 2011, as the Eagles graduated Nos. 1 and 2 singles players Rebecca Leland and Johanna Alex. Those positions will be assumed in 2011 by formerly Nos. 3 and 4 Dana Smith and Amy Knight. Smith went 5-5 in conference play last season while earning all-conference honors. In a promising freshman campaign, Knight went 6-3 in UMAC action. Doubles partners throughout in 2010, Smith and Knight combined to go 10-7 overall and 7-2 in the conference. Sophomores Chelsey Fiecke and Rachel Richter also return to the court for Northwestern after gaining valuable collegiate tennis experience in 2010. Both will see increased action this season. Fiecke went 8-1 last year, most of which came at No. 6 singles. Richter split time at Nos. 5 and 6 singles, going 5-4 in UMAC play and 6-9 overall.
3. Martin Luther College Knights
2010 Overall Record: 7-7
2010 UMAC Record: 6-4
2010 UMAC Finish: 3rd
Starters Returning: 6
Starters Lost: 0
Martin Luther College returns every member of last season’s roster that finished third in the UMAC and hopes for that experience to pay off with a big 2011 season. Rachel Niemi returns for her third year as the top singles player for the Knights. She finished last season with a 5-10 record, and was named All-UMAC for the second time. She was joined on the all-conference team by Karina Luthra, who received those honors in her first year playing mainly in the number two and three spots. Senior Carol Niemi also returns to round out the top three after a 6-7 individual record last season. The Knights also have a veteran group to support their top three, with Tessa Hieb and Meredith Koltz entering their fourth seasons, while juniors Heidi Heckmann, Hannah Janke, Lauren Gross and Michelle Hintz also returning after gaining significant experience.
T-4. Bethany Lutheran College Vikings
2010 Overall Record: 3-14
2010 UMAC Record: 3-7
2010 UMAC Finish: 5th
Starters Returning: 4
Starters Lost: 3
Sharing fourth place in the preseason coaches’ poll was Bethany Lutheran College and the University of Minnesota, Morris, as each team earned 10 points. Bethany Lutheran is ready to exceed expectations this season. In the 2010 season the Vikings posted a 3-14 overall record and 2-4 in the conference. Top returner and senior, Madara Matveja, who made it to the No. 4 singles championships in last year’s UMAC Tournament, is ready to lead the team. Sophomore Rebecca Kopacek is also one of the most naturally talented players on the squad and has been improving her game in the off-season. Like the Vikings men’s team, the women’s roster is relatively young filled with freshman and sophomores, with the exception of Matveja.
T-4. University of Minnesota, Morris Cougars
2010 Overall Record: 3-10
2010 UMAC Record: 3-7
2010 UMAC Finish: 4th
Starters Returning: 5
Starters Lost: 0
After posting its best season in recent history, the University of Minnesota, Morris women’s tennis team returns its top five players in 2011. Preya Chunkapura leads the way after an All-UMAC sophomore season where she went 4-0 in UMAC matches while leading the team in dual match wins. Chunkapura’s season was ended in the quarterfinals of the UMAC Tournament. Also returning for the Cougars in 2011 is Jessica Armstrong, who finished second to Chunkapura in wins, both overall and in the UMAC.
6. North Central University Rams
2010 Overall Record: 0-12
2010 UMAC Record: 0-10
2010 UMAC Finish: 6th
Starters Returning: 5
Starters Lost: 1
North Central University, who rounded out the UMAC’s six teams, welcomes new head coach Jessica Tonder in 2011. Tonder welcomes back returners Rachel Smith and Rachel Lojovich, who filled the Nos. 1 and 3 singles spots for the Rams last year. Smith went 4-6 at No. 1 singles in 2010 while Lojovich played nine matches at No. 3. Four new players will also fill out North Central’s lineup as the team begins its 2011 season.
Each of the teams will kick off their seasons indoors and in warmer-weather states before beginning conference play the last week of March. Following each institution’s 10 scheduled league matches, all six teams will gather on May 6-7 at the Baseline Tennis Center on the University of Minnesota campus in Minneapolis where individual and team champions will be crowned at the UMAC Tournament.