Marshall University Athletics
Women's Tennis Earn Top-50 Preseason Rankings
1/12/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Jan. 12, 2009
Complete Release in PDF Format 
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - The Marshall University women's tennis team will begin the 2009 season as the nation's 46th-ranked team, as announced by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA). Seniors Kellie Schmitt (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and Karolina Soor (Lindesburg, Sweden) also received individual preseason rankings.
"The team is at a good starting point for a challenging season," Marshall's head coach John Mercer said. "We look forward to moving up in the rankings this season with some tough victories."
Schmitt, the two-time reigning Conference USA Player of the Year was selected as the nations 33rd-ranked and the East Region's No. 3 player.
"This will be a good start for me this season," Schmitt said. "I will have the opportunity to play a lot of tough competitors and have the chance to move up in the ranks."
"Being ranked in the top 50 is very good for her," Mercer continued. "We hope for a great spring from her against top opponents."
Schmitt and Soor earned the 44th slot in the national ranking and the No. 3 doubles team in the East Region.
"The two are driven to make the NCAA tournament again for their senior year," Mercer added. "We hope people come to watch them play some tough matches this season."
"We are pretty happy with our doubles standing," Schmitt added. "We have been practicing well together and hope for good wins against tough competitors this spring."
The Thundering Herd opens its regular season at home against the University of Kentucky, Saturday with first serve is set for 11 a.m. at the Huntington Tennis Club.
The 2009 outlook follows...
Head Coach John Mercer enters his seventh season at the helm of the Thundering Herd. Coach Mercer, along with assistant coach Megan Muth and volunteer assistant coach Laurie Mercer, hope to have a successful season as a result of having a mixture of experience and youth in its line-up. Marshall welcomes five returning letterwinners and three newcomers to its lineup, which include two transfers.
The coaches believe the players joining the squad are hungry to compete at the top level of division I college tennis. With the combination of returners who have played at the top level of competition, the team should experience great success this season. The 2009 team and the coaches are looking to strive for appearances at the NCAA tournament and win the Conference USA Championship title.
Coach Mercer breaks down the 2009 lineup:
SENIORS
Jessica Keener hails from Reston, Va. and will bring consistency and steady play out on the court. Jessica possesses a big-time game in that she can hurt her opponent in a variety of ways. In regards to doubles, she has very good instincts and very aggressive. The senior ended the 2008 fall season with her most career fall wins with nine and posted a 6-5 doubles record. Keener finished the 2008 spring 13-7 playing mostly the singles No. 6 slot. She also had a 15-10 doubles record playing at the No. 2 and 3 positions. Keener has shown tremendous improvement throughout her career. "The coaches are expecting her to have a great senior year and really be a leader on and off the court. Keener has made herself into a force that can be dominating. She has developed into a player we can always count on to give a great effort in the big matches."
Schmitt returns as the reigning C-USA Player of the Year, which she has garnered for two consecutive seasons. The Pittsburgh, Pa. native advanced to the 2008 NCAA singles tournament second round and posted an impressive 23-4 record at the No. 1 position. She ended the spring season as the nation's 55th-ranked and No. 3 East Region singles player. Schmitt begins the spring season as the Herd's top career singles victories leader (106) and is tied with Ashley Kroh (2001-05) for career overall victories with 198. Schmitt, along with partner Soor, competed in the 2008 NCAA doubles tournament, but fell in the first round of competition. Schmitt began the 2008 fall season with her highest preseason singles ranking at 42nd and as the 14th-ranked doubles team with partner Soor.
"Kellie has had an incredible first three years. She has continued to work very hard on her game and has once again shown us improvement compared to her junior year. She is a real leader with her work effort. Kellie always practices and trains hard and loves to play. The coaches are excited to see what she can accomplish this spring season."
Soor has had continued success over the years and has learned to play a very aggressive pro-style of game. A native from Lindesberg, Sweden, Soor posted a 12-11 singles record at the No. 2 and 3 slots during the 2008 spring campaign. She clinched three victories for the Herd last season with two coming at the C-USA Championships. Soor earned her first C-USA Player of the Week honor as she secured Marshall's victory over Virginia Tech to conclude the 2008 regular season. She also ended the spring as the 21st ranked East Region singles player. With teammate Kellie Schmitt, the senior tandem began the 2008 fall season as the 14th-ranked team and competed at the All-American Championships doubles main draw. Soor and Schmitt also were the No. 1 seed at the East Regional Championships. "Karolina is always capable of pulling the big win. Karolina's on the court decision making continues to improve and the coaches are anxious for her to show off her hard work from this past year. She works very hard on and off the court. During her time at Marshall, she has really made herself into a very good national level player. She does a great job paying attention to detail and taking care of the little things necessary to because she is that national level of player."
JUNIORS
Thaddea Lock hails from Bristol, England and has fought injuries her first two years with the Herd, but has worked hard to raise the level of her game. During the 2008 fall campaign, she posted a 5-6 singles and 5-3 doubles record. She finished the 2008 spring season with wins over opponents from ranked schools and was selected as an ITA All-American Scholar Athlete. In 2008, she had a huge win against Rice at the C-USA tournament to help lead the Herd into the championship match. "Thaddea has always been a consistent competitor for the Herd. She posted a career 22-14 at the fifth and sixth positions against some very stiff competition. We hope she can continue to battle through some chronic injury problems and continue to be an impact player in our line-up. She continues to show improvement every day."
Deanna Bailey joins the Herd with an impressive resume from Elon University and is a native of McDonough, Ga. Bailey brings a fighter mentality and competitiveness to the court and to Marshall's line-up. During her tenure at Elon, she earned Southern Conference All-Conference first team honors and was conference freshman of the year. In her first fall season with the Herd, Bailey had a 6-5 singles and 7-4 doubles record. "Deanna is a great addition to our team. She was recruited by a lot of top-50 programs and has already shown very good results for the Herd against other top national programs."
SOPHOMORES
Isabell Raich hails from Klaus, Austria. Isabell has worked hard to develop her game in her first year at Marshall. Raich has an excellent work ethic and has a better understanding of what she is trying to do on the court. In the opening weekends of 2008 fall play, Raich notched a 5-1 singles record with wins against top-50 teams. Raich played the No. 2, 3, and four positions for the Herd during its 2008 spring campaign. She was also selected as an ITA All-American Scholar Athlete. "Isabell has strategically taken a huge jump. She is playing at a much higher level on a more consistent basis. Isabell will contribute very well to our line-up in the upcoming season."
Catherine Kellner transfers from Fordham University who was also a top-50 American recruit. Kellner is native of Smithtown, N.Y. and continues to be a hard worker for the Herd. Since her arrival at Marshall, Kellner has shown remarkable improvement in her game. She posted an 8-5 singles and 7-7 doubles record in her first fall season with the Herd. "Catherine will be a great player for us. She is very quick and fast on the court. She has done everything the coaches have asked of her and she continues to improve every day. Catherine is a real good competitor. She gives a great effort every time she walks on the court."
FRESHMAN
Kristina Koprcina hails from Croatia and is the Herd's lone freshman this year. She is adjusting well to the new style of play just like all international students must face. Koprcina has been consistently playing better during her first action with the Herd this fall season. She had an impressive 8-6 singles and 6-5 doubles record in her first fall season playing Division I tennis. "Kristina has a lot of talent and is already playing at the level where she can make a huge impact on our team. The coaches are expecting her to continue to work hard and become a real impact player for us."
SCHEDULE
The Herd's schedule is loaded this year with 13 teams earning preseason rankings. The ground work as been built for the upcoming season and the team must be ready to seize potential opportunities. The coaches are excited to see how well this very good team will compete this season.
"It will be up to the players and coaches to achieve what we are capable of and then reach a little higher and overachieve. If we can do that, I feel we will have an incredible year," Coach Mercer added in regards to possible C-USA championship and NCAA appearances.
The team has eight athletes with great attitudes, a common goal and a plan to complete the ultimate season objective, the C-USA championship and multiple NCAA appearances. With a sound lineup that includes three seniors, two juniors, two sophomores, and a freshman, Marshall no longer has the element of surprise but rather high expectations and aspirations for the 2009 campaign.
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Players Mentioned
