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Frantz’s first MC team includes his
daughter, four other veterans
Release Date: September 6, 2006
MONMOUTH, Ill. — The cupboard
wasn’t exactly left bare for first-year women’s tennis coach Kerry
Frantz.
A year ago, the Scots had a breakthrough season, winning five dual
matches and posting team marks of 49-45 in singles and 26-19 in
doubles. Five of the team’s seven major contributors return this
fall and will hope to take the Scots to the next level, which would
mean placing in the top two in the Midwest Conference’s South
Division and earning a spot in the four-team playoffs.
“We have a good team, and we can be just as good as last year, if
not better,” said Frantz, who said making the playoffs is this
year’s ultimate goal. “We only lost one player from last year, but
that was Shauna Skowronski, our No. 1 player, so everybody in the
No. 2 through 6 spots has to move up one. Our nucleus has three
sophomores and a junior, so that puts us in a good position to keep
getting better.”
Sophomore Cassie Frantz, who is the daughter of the new coach,
posted a 9-5 record in singles last fall and also shared the
consolation championship in No. 1 doubles at the league meet. She
will be counted on as a leader this fall and, appropriately, will
move up to the vacant No. 1 singles spot.
In doubles, Frantz will team with classmate Brittany Donnelly (8-8
in singles), and the tandem combines the players that Coach Frantz
says hits the ball hardest (Donnelly) with the team’s top power
server (Frantz). The duo also represents the players who logged the
most court time over the summer.
“They both played quite a bit, and we need to see that from the rest
of the team next summer so that we can push ourselves to the next
level,” said Frantz.
Senior Sara Yerks, who was 7-7 in singles and owned a team-best 8-2
doubles record with classmate Holly Trotter, will also be counted on
for big things at the No. 2 singles spot. She and Trotter, the No. 4
singles player, will again team in doubles.
Also back is junior Rachel Atherton, who was 8-7 in singles and 9-4
in doubles last fall.
“It’s a joy to watch both Rachel and Holly at the net,” said Frantz.
“They’re both very aggressive. They’re not looking to just get the
ball back – they want to close out the point every time they
volley.”
Sophomores Maddy Ethington and Karen Skadow are also back after they
went undefeated in very limited action in singles last fall. At the
moment, Ethington figures to get regular time playing No. 3 doubles
with Atherton, while Skadow is slated to play No. 6 singles.
Newcomers this year include Rachel Bognar (Kewanee), Sarah McLinden
(Queen of Peace) and Kayla Seyller (Geneseo).
“As a group, our freshmen didn’t have a lot of experience prior to
joining the program,” said Frantz.
The Scots open their season this Friday and Saturday at a tournament
hosted by Quincy University. A highlight of the schedule comes Sept.
19-22, when the team will host a match each day at the MC Tennis
Stadium. Knox, Lawrence, St. Ambrose and Ripon will be the opponents
during that four-day stretch.
The conference tournament is scheduled for Oct. 13-15 in Madison,
Wis.
“We’re looking forward to that home stretch,” said the first-year
coach, who most recently led the boys and girls programs at Macomb
High School. “Three of the matches are against conference teams. I’m
hopeful that it will help create a tennis culture on campus. As
students walk by, they’ll see some very competitive play.”
Frantz is partial, of course, but he believes his sport is the best
one out there.
“It’s a sport you can play at a strong level well into your 50s and
60s,” he said. “I don’t see a lot of competitive football and
basketball players that old. Really, you can play into your 70s and
80s, and if you’re somewhat limited, there’s always doubles. There’s
a lot of cardiovascualr work, and the game involves strategy and
quick decisions.”
Speaking of strategy, Frantz has one in mind for the overall success
of the program, and he hopes to step up recruiting and training
while providing much-needed continuity as the Scots’ fourth coach in
the last four years.
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