Saints tabbed by UMAC coaches as 2019 women's tennis favorite
ST. PAUL, Minn.---Last year, the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) women's tennis postseason championship was a battle for the record books as the College of St. Scholastica narrowly edged out the University of Northwestern to claim victory and the conference's first-ever automatic qualifying bid to the NCAA tournament. The UMAC coaches predict another close finish in 2019 as St. Scholastica topped the Preseason Coaches’ Poll by three points, the UMAC announced Tuesday.
The Saints garnered 47 points and five first-place votes but were trailed by the Eagles with 44 points and three first-place nods. With many core returners back for both teams, another closely contested season is almost inevitable.
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Poll |
Team Previews |
2019 Schedule |
The reigning champion Saints welcome back several key performers but do not have any All-UMAC honorees back from last year. Elise Hauer played at the top of the lineup and was a 2016 and 2017 All-UMAC performer. She returns for her final season to lead the Saints, along with Elizabeth Fink and Katelyn Rice who each tallied nine or more singles wins in 2018.
The Eagles bring back four All-UMAC honorees from last season to give them an experienced lineup from top to bottom. Nikki Paskewitz tallied 14 singles victories last year and hopes her senior season will lead the Eagles to a conference title. She is joined by Emily Knight, Shawna Spears and Gracie Lebrun in her quest.
The University of Wisconsin-Superior debuted its women's program with a third-place finish to make the postseason. The Yellowjackets will look to do the same in 2019 after getting picked third with 38 points in the poll. Allison Tollas and Emily Wald were All-UMAC honorees and will lead the 'Jackets again this season.
Martin Luther College was fourth a year ago and took fourth in the poll. However, fourth through sixth are separated by just seven points with the University of Minnesota Morris taking fifth with 24 points and Bethany Lutheran College sixth with 22 points.
The Knights hold a big advantage over the rest of the field with the return of 2018 UMAC Player of the Year Anna Hemmelman who went undefeated at No. 1 singles for her sophomore campaign. The Cougars bring back Sam Tate and Maddie Johnson who each had at least four singles wins, while the Vikings will have an entirely new lineup of young talent leading the way.
Crown College and North Central University rounded out the poll with 12 points for seventh and eight points for eighth, respectively.
The UMAC season opens up Friday with Martin Luther playing in non-conference competition before several teams kick off the conference season on Feb. 27. The UMAC tournament is set to begin Monday, April 29 with semifinal action before the championship match on Friday, April 3.
2019 UMAC Women's Tennis Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. St. Scholastica - 47 points (5 First Place Votes)
2. Northwestern - 44 points (3 First Place Vote)
3. Wisconsin-Superior - 38 points
4. Martin Luther - 29 points
5. Minnesota Morris - 24 points
6. Bethany Lutheran - 22 points
7. Crown - 12 points
8. North Central - 8 points
Team Previews
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BLC |
CC |
CSS |
MLC |
NCU |
UMM |
UNW |
UWS |
Bethany Lutheran College
Jill Bailey | 3rd Season |
2018 Season
2-5 UMAC, 4-11 | 6th |
Top Returners
- Leah Schaefer, Sr. | 2018: Singles – 2-13, Doubles – 4-11 | 2018 UMAC Sportsmanship Award
Need to Know
Six new freshman will see playing time on the court this season.
The College of St. Scholastica
Wells Patten | 23rd Season |
2018 Season
7-0 UMAC, 14-7 | 1st |
Postseason: Defeated Martin Luther 7-2 and Northwestern 5-4 in UMAC Tournament; Lost to Gustavus Adolphus in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament (5-0)
Top Returners
- Katelyn Rice, Sr. | 2017 All-UMAC | 2018: Singles – 10-3, Doubles – 8-8 |
- Elizabeth Fink, Jr. | 2018: Singles – 9-5, Doubles – 8-10 |
- Elise Hauer, Sr. | 2016 & 2017 All-UMAC | 2018: Singles – 2-12, Doubles – 10-7 |
Need to Know
The Saints don’t return an all-conference performer from the previous season for the first time since 2006.
Crown College
Eric Shourds | 2nd season |
2018 Season
1-6 UMAC, 1-13 | 7th |
Top Returners
- Lauren Kewitsch, So. | 2019: Singles Record: 0-14, Doubles Record: 0-13 | #2 Singles, #1 Doubles in 2018|
- Sierra Allison, So. | 2019: Singles Record: 1-13, Doubles Record: 0-11 |#3 Singles, #2 Doubles in 2018 |
Need to Know
Crown Women’s Tennis enters its second year of play.
Martin Luther College
Arlen Koestler | 24th season |
2018 Season
4-3 UMAC, 7-9 | 4th |
Postseason: Lost in UMAC Tennis Championships semifinals
Top Returners
- Anna Hemmelman, Jr. | 2018 UMAC Women’s Tennis Player of the Year; First Team All-UMAC 2017, 18 | 2018: Singles (#1) – 13-3, Doubles (#1) – 9-7 |
- Rachel Schewe, So. | 2018: Singles (#3) – 4-12, Doubles (#2) – 6-10 |
- Morgan Shevey, Sr. | 2018: Singles (#4) – 6-10, Doubles (#2) – 5-11 |
Need to Know
Anna Hemmelman is the first MLC women’s tennis player to finish a season unbeaten (7-0) in singles competition in UMAC play. She closed the 2018 season with an 11-match singles win streak.
North Central University
Carin L. Tuff | 2nd Season |
2018 Season
0-7 UMAC, 1-11| 8th |
Postseason: NCCAA Team Scholar Award
Top Returners
- Madalyn Meetz, Jr. | Captain | 0-12 No. 1 singles |
- Sierra Hunter, Jr. | 3-7 singles
University of Minnesota Morris
Miranda Brown | 1st season |
2018 Season
3-4 UMAC, 4-6 | 5th |
Top Returners
- Sam Tate, So. | UMAC- Academic All-Conference| 2018 Record: 6-4 Singles, 4-6 Doubles |
- Maddie Johnson, So. | UMAC- Player of the Week | 2018 Record: Singles 4-4, 4-4 Doubles |
- Abby Van Kempen, Jr. | UMAC- Academic All-Conference | 2018 Record: Singles 3-5, Doubles 4-4|
University of Northwestern
Matt Swigart | 7th Season |
2018 Season
6-1 UMAC, 14-11 | 2nd |
Postseason: Fell to St. Scholastica (5-4) in UMAC Tournament Final
Top Returners
- Nikki Paskewitz, Sr. | 2018 All-UMAC | 2018: Singles – 14-6 overall (5-1 UMAC), Doubles – 16-7 overall, 7-0 UMAC
- Emily Knight, Sr. | 2017 & 2018 All-UMAC | 2018: Singles – 11-12 overall (5-1 UMAC), Doubles – 15-10 overall (7-0 UMAC)
- Shawna Spears, So. | 2018 All-UMAC | 2018: Singles – 10-13 overall (6-1 UMAC), Doubles – 14-9 overall (7-0 UMAC)
- Gracie Lebrun, Jr. | 2018 All-UMAC | 2018: Singles – 12-9 overall (6-1 UMAC), Doubles – 13-7 overall (6-1 UMAC)
Need to Know
In the2018 UMAC Championship against St. Scholastica – the Eagles were up 4-1 before falling in four straight doubles matches in third set tiebreakers.
University of Wisconsin-Superior
Kolin Dean | 2nd Season |
2018 Season
5-2 UMAC, 9-10 Overall | 3rd |
Postseason: Lost, 8-1, to No. 2-seed Northwestern in UMAC Semifinals
Top Returners
- Emily Wald, So. | 2018 First Team All-UMAC | UMAC Player of the Week, April 9 | 2018: Singles – 11-6, Doubles – 10-8 |
- Allison Tollas, Jr. | 2018 First Team All-UMAC | UMAC Player of the Week, Feb. 26 | 2018: Singles – 7-12, Doubles – 10-9 |
- Megan Dulong, So. | 2018: Singles – 9-3, Doubles – 7-7 |