PELLA — After finishing the best American Rivers Conference since 2003 last season, Central College’s women’s tennis team is an unproven but talented roster heading into 2022.
The Dutchman tied for second in the league standings in the fall of 2021, becoming the team’s first runner-up in almost 20 years. A quintet with five of the seven regular starters graduating and playing from 1st to 5th in singles during conference matches.
‘When you lose so many players it becomes a question of who will step in and make it through’, said the coach. Ryun Ferrell Said. “You don’t fill a hole. It’s a completely different pair of shoes now. We have a deep and talented roster and I think we can use a variety of players.”
Central returns with 11 letter winners, including a sixth-place singles player for much of the fall. Briana Lindstrom (Junior, North Aurora, IL, West Aurora HS)and half of the second doubles pairing, Jennifer Larson (Sophomore, Johnston).
“Jennifer is one of the best athletes we have,” Ferrell said. is one of our healthiest players and has really improved her mental game.”
Alex Griggs (Senior, Knoxville) When Jenna Hernandez (Junior, Slater, Ballard HS) Captain of the team, both have played many international matches in their careers. They were 6-5 as a doubles team last year.
“I want to keep them together,” Ferrell said. worked incredibly hard all summer and showed some great things early on.”
Ali Crider (Junior, Norwalk) Played 5 times in 5th place in singles last spring, Ashlyn Blunt (Senpai, Glidden, Carol) Played a 6th place single for part of the spring and won their final 6 games.
“Ashlynn will get the ball back and drive her opponent crazy,” Ferrell said. “Ali has tremendous talent. If she can stay healthy, she can help us.”
Muddy Hall (Senpai, Oskaloosa) Last year he won six singles titles, and that role may increase this year.
“She’s been the seventh, eighth, ninth singles player to play exhibition matches over the last few years and beat her opponents,” Ferrell said.
Abbey Den Adele (Centennial HS Sophomore, Ankeny), Karina Schubert (Sophomore, Newell, Newell Fonda HS) When Paige Farrell (Junior, Chariton) It also works as a letter winner for the fall season. Becca Vala (Sophomore, Elkhorn HS, Omaha, Nebraska) Another letter-winner returning to the roster, but with a focus on volleyball this fall.
Ferrell has added five newcomers looking to make an impression to earn a spot in the lineup.
Aside from Griggs and Hernandez, no two players have played together more than three times in doubles. It’s always been an area of importance for Ferrell, and trying to find the right partnership early will be key to the season.
“You start practicing with a variety of random partners,” Ferrell said. “It removes my prejudices of who I think would work well together and allows it to develop more naturally. The process allows people to step up and show off their talent. You never know until you play against someone wearing a really different school shirt.”
Luther College has won three conference titles in a row, and Ferrell still thinks it’s a deep conference.
“Luther will do well. The coaches picked them as favorites again in preseason polls,” Ferrell said. “Cor has the best players in the league coming back and Wartburg has a lot of talent coming back. Nebraska he’s Wesleyan because a lot of games he lost 5-4 and nobody lost. It’s a dark horse.”
Central will travel to Monmouth College, Illinois, on August 27 to kick off the season with a noon game.
