March 13, 2010
Women's Tennis Spring Season Outlook
The 2009-10 Maryville University women's tennis team.
"We are looking forward to starting a new tradition of competition at the NCAA Division II level" said Plyler.
For the Saints, this season is the start of a new journey into Division II Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC). The NCAA granted permission to Maryville to continue its reclassification process to NCAA Division II and the GLVC is one of the top conferences in the nation.
"Our goals for the season are to get better every day as individuals and as a team and to continue to compete against conference and non-conference opponents," said Plyler.
Maryville finished the 2009 spring season 5-10 overall and 3-4 in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC).
The Saints welcomes three newcomers to its roster and among those are freshmen Chelsea Travis (Indianapolis, Ind.) and Erinne Haff (Ballwin, Mo.).
Together they scored all three points in the Saint's final fall match against Stephens College. Travis won her No. 1 singles match 6-1, 6-2 and 10-6. Haff won at No. 2 singles with a 6-1 score in both sets. The duo combined for an 8-1 win at No. 1 doubles to give Maryville the third point of the day.
Key upcoming matches this season for the Saints include University Missouri-St. Louis and Greenville College.
Maryville fell in a 1-8 loss to across-town rival and conference opponent, UMSL, this past September. However, the Saints are excited to see the Tritons again when they come to campus in April according to Plyler.
The match against former conference opponent Greenville on April 13 will prove to be a good test as well. "It is always a fight to the end whenever we play them," said Plyler.
The Saints open the season at home against non-conference opponent Blackburn College on March 15 at 3 p.m.
Contact: Brittany Willett, SID Student Assistant
