EAHS girls tennis preview

(E-town’s top five players this year will be, from left, Tricia Stone, Katie Farmer, Courtney Peffley, Meghan Rice and Kirsten Thompson.)

Head Coach: Lacie Owens, first season.

2007 Record: 2-11 overall.

Key Returners: Courtney Peffley, senior; Tricia Stone, senior; Kirsten Thompson, junior; Meghan Rice, junior.

The Bears return four of their top five players from a season ago. All four were starters for the first time last year and return with a season of experience under their belts.

Peffley will be the team’s No. 1 player, so she will get every team’s best singles player. She covers the court well and is very athletic, which will serve her well.

Stone moves up to the No. 2 slot after being E-town’s third singles player last year.

Thompson will take the No. 3 slot and Rice will be No. 4.

After being hit hard by graduation before last year, Owens inherits a group that has experience and should improve every match.

Key Loss: Jenna Garber, graduation.

Garber was E-town’s No. 1 player for the past two seasons. She gave the Bears a consistent player at the top singles spot.

Key Newcomer: Katie Farmer, junior.

Farmer wasn’t in the top five last year, but will be E-town’s No. 5 singles player. Having four of the top five players returning will help her in particular because of the returners’ ability to give her advice.

Strengths: Experience, athleticism.

E-town’s top four got their feet wet a year ago and must now be ready to jump in and compete match in and match out. They are all very athletic and have potential to be good, but time will tell how much they learned last season and how they apply it now.

Weaknesses: Lack of prior success.

E-town started out pretty well last year, going 1-1, but then lost nine straight matches in the middle of the season, including four matches by a 7-0 score. Sure, they gained experience along the way but that only gets you so far. They need to learn how to win early in the season in order to stay competitive throughout.

Outlook: Former E-town head coach Lisa McSparran had a season to develop this year’s returning four and, under her tutelage, they certainly improved by season’s end.

But E-town welcomed in Owens in the offseason and, with any new coach, there was an adjustment period between the players and coach. But Owens has the Bears ready to compete and continues teaching them how to improve with every match.

The Bears will improve on their 2-11 record from a year ago and could be a surprise team to watch out for. They have the potential to win at least six matches if the top four can make the necessary adjustments it will take to get there.