Monmouth College women’s tennis team use building blocks

Release Date: September 1, 2003

MONMOUTH, Ill. – There’s an old saying that “success breeds success.” If that is true, then the Monmouth College women’s tennis team is in good hands.

First year tennis coach LeAnn Hagen has guided the Fighting Scots softball team to runner-up finishes in the Midwest Conference her first two seasons at the helm and now takes the reins of the women’s tennis team as they begin their second year after a 10-year hiatus.

The Scots have continued their building process, adding four freshmen to a mix of seven upperclassmen, and Hagen is optimistic the group will show steady improvement.

“This is a hard-working group,” said Hagen. “They will do a lot of little things which will make them successful.”

Leading that “hard-working” group is a trio that gained valuable experience last season.

The squad’s lone senior, Amanda Morris (Galesburg, Ill./HS), along with athletic junior Allison Costello (Mendota, Ill./HS) and sophomore Beth McKenna (Peoria, Ill./Notre Dame) should provide the foundation for that steady improvement.

“All three are excellent leaders, both on and off the court,” explains Hagen. “They’re not afraid to go all out and set the example for our younger players.”

But don’t count out the other returners, either. Junior Anna Beasley (Carlinville, Ill./HS) and sophomores Jessica Mojden (Clarendon Hills, Ill./Hinsdale Central) and Mary Stoiber (Montgomery, Ill./Oswego) could be counted on for singles or doubles. All three saw action last year and appear ready to move the team into the future.

Speaking of the future, two freshmen who Hagen expects to have an immediate impact are Sara Yerks (Aurora, Ill./Waubonsie Valley) and Holly Trotter (Elk Grove Village, Ill./HS).

Rounding out the team are junior Kassia Phillips (Bartlett, Ill./HS) and freshmen Heather Gerard (Grinnell, Iowa/HS) and Mary O’Connor (Joliet, Ill./Catholic).

“It’s too early to say exactly where everyone will fit in our program,” said Hagen. “They all have a great work ethic, so I’m sure that each will contribute to our goal of building a top quality program.”

While the building blocks are being laid to build the Monmouth College program, Hagen is a patient architect.

“We have to realize we are a very young team and we need to concentrate on the little things in order to build a strong program,” she explained. “If we continue to work hard, we could surprise some people as we near the conference meet in October.”