Neville Lone Senior on Hard-Hitting Women's Tennis Squad

Author: Peter Yordan

After a strong 6-2 record last fall the women's tennis team is looking to serve up another successful season this spring. The squad, a potent mix of veteran experience and young talent, breaks out of winter hibernation with a Spring Break trip to Hilton Head Island, S.C., for a six team round robin tournament before heading back to the decidedly cooler climes of Vermont for the Middlebury Invitational in early April. After that the team has just two more matches in the shortened spring season before the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) tournament at Williams on April 18.
The Panthers field a young team this year, with Ariella Neville the lone senior among their top 10. The team is led by junior Captains Jena Siegel and Sandy Spring, and has an experienced roster of middle-classmen. "Our depth and individual court styles and personalities give us a unique strength," said Spring. Spring, the team's top seed, will give the Panthers an immediate boost this season after being abroad all fall. "We had a solid fall season and with the return of our number one player, Sandy Spring, our lineup is even stronger," said Siegel.
The youthful group will rely heavily on its veterans. "We will be counting on the junior and senior core group for leadership," said Head Coach Nate Simms. "Ariella Neville, our only senior, and our junior captains Sandy Spring and Jena Siegel will be especially critical."
The Panthers are also banking on strong performances from their younger players, including first-year standout Maren Messing. "Maren Messing has really stepped up her level over the winter and should be a strong contributor," said Simms.
The team has its sights set on a fast start. "The motivation, energy and self-confidence we hope to achieve on spring break will then propel us and feed into our tournaments on return," said Spring. With five matches over five consecutive days during Spring Break, the team will be relying on its depth to get results. "The team is very strong in doubles and has a deep singles lineup. Probably our biggest strength is that we have players from number one to number 10 on the roster who can step in and win matches at any time," said Siegel. Good performances will be expected from key players like Nina Popel '04, Lauren Ready '05 and Kristin Baker '04.
Looming on the horizon is the capstone of the spring season, the national championship. "We have a legitimate shot at making the NCAA tournament, so that is a goal for the whole group," said Simms. Middlebury will need wins from every member of the squad, both young and old, if they are to qualify for the postseason.