After finishing their fall season 0-15 last year, AU tennis hopes to carry their success from the spring into this year’s fall season.

The Eagles finished their 2014-2015 spring season winning six out of their final seven matches.

The returning players who had a significant impact to the team’s success in the spring include seniors Andrea Ruiz, Martina Baca and juniors Meghann Fitzpatrick and Kendal Stephens.

Senior Zdenka Pozo has also returned to the roster after taking a year off to recover from a back injury. She has not played for the Eagles since the 2013-2014 season.

“Zdenka, our number one, has returned after being out for a year,” said Leedy. “She is in her fifth year and having her back has raised our hopes for shooting to make the top eight in the GLIAC tournament.”

Out of the team’s top six players, all but one is a senior, so the team is looking to grow from the bottom up to ensure success even after this fall season comes to an end. 

“This year we have the experience and it is just a question of how the other teams in the conference will be,” said Leedy. “What will determine our success is if we can use our experience and take some matches.” 

Along with the strength coming from the upper classmen, the tennis program has brought in five new players who Head Coach Carl Leedy hopes will make a momentous impact.

These incoming players include transfer sophomore Elizabeth Kidd, and freshman, Natalie Keron, Jordan Martin, Chelsea Myers, and Kaitlin Snider.

“They are all decent players,” said Leedy. “Natalie and Kaitlin are both evenly strong and will be traveling with the six upper classmen this season.”

The team has had a strong preseason, which Leedy has been using to figure out who he will pair up for doubles matches and placing his team in the position allowing for the most success. 

“We have smaller goals of working on things we need to improve on,” said Leedy. “This is a great group of girls and I am really looking forward to working through challenges with them and I am excited to see what happens.”

The team will host its home opener against Michigan Tech University, but will begin its season on September fifth against Wayne State.