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Judson News
Women's Tennis - Fri, Aug 27, 2010
Interview with Danielle Sum and Rachel Hegel
 
 
 
2010-11 Mugshots
   
 
2010-11 Season Preview
 

The foundation for a strong program to come is being built in the second year of women's tennis at Judson University. Head coach Art Steuber improved his numbers on the team with six new players for the 2010-11 season.

Senior's Danielle Sum (West Dundee, IL) and Melissa Vivian (Dixon, IL) set the tone as the leaders on the team from the first year. Sum picked up for singles wins in year one while Vivian had three. Sum led Judson at the #1 singles and doubles position while Vivian bounced back between the #3 and #4 singles.

Also bringing back experience is sophomore Brittany Boelter (South Elgin, IL), Averi Kirchner (Marengo, IL), Kristen Kress (Bartlett, IL), and Angela Schultz (Janesville, WI).

Of the six new players, four are transfers from the area. Rachel Hegel (Elgin, IL) and Meghan Joyce (St. Charles, IL) come in from Elgin Community College while Autumn Zielke (Rockford, IL) is from Rock Valley College and Antigone Lowery (Denton, TX) comes from Seward County Community College.

The women's team will be looking for their first program win in over 10 years as they went 0-22 last year. Judson starts off the year on Saturday, August 28th, at 3:00 p.m. vs. McHenry County College at the Judson Tennis Courts.

Rich History for Tennis
In the seven years of women's tennis, the program produced on NIIC Championship and two NIIC Players of the Year. In that time, nine All-NIIC awards were given out to seven players and nine NIIC Individual Championships were won. Kathy Reardon was the NIIC Player of the Year in 1992 and 1993 and helped Judson to their only championship in 1993.
 
In 1996, Judson produced a NAIA qualifier in Maggie Kasicki. She came to Judson for only one year from a NCAA Division I program and made a huge impact.
 
Local Talent

Art Steuber has used his local connections to bring in several talented players from the Elgin area. Of the 12 players on the team, seven of them are from the area with two from the extended area.

Elgin Area
Brittany Boelter (So.) - South Elgin (South Elgin HS)
Danielle Sum (Sr.) - West Dundee (Elgin CC)
Rachel Hegel (Jr.) - Elgin (Elgin CC)
Megan Joyce (Jr.) - St. Charles (Elgin CC)
Averi Kirchner (So.) - Marengo (Marengo Community HS)
Kristen Kress (So.) - Bartlett (Bartlett HS)
Kirstie Shales (Fr.) - Elgin (Larkin HS)
 
Extended Area
Melissa Vivian (Sr.) - Dixon (Sauk Valley CC)
Autumn Zielke (Jr.) - Rockford (Rock Valley College)
 
Outside Illinois
Antigone Lowery (Jr.) - Denton, TX (Seward County College)
Maurisa Gauss (Fr.) - Riverside, CA (Woodcrest Christian HS)
 
Looking For a Win
Judson will be vying for their first program win in over 12 years of the program. Judson's last win came against Trinity International on September 24, 1998, 5-4. In that season, Judson went 3-9. Judson had three matches last season that they fell in, 5-4. Last year, Judson fell to McHenry County, 0-9.
 
Head Coach Art Steuber

In his second season at the helm, Steuber has worked hard to bring in talent to improve Judson's program. With the addition of several talented players, he will have the chance to pick up his first women's victory at Judson.

Steuber is no stranger to Judson as he is the profile of Judson Tennis. He is the first men's player to be inducted into the Judson Athletics Hall of Fame and in his time at Judson won numerous awards. He was the NIIC Player of the Year and also helped his team to the only men's tennis conference championship in 1992. In his career, he is the only player to win over 100 matches at Judson.

With his knowledge of tennis and combined skills, the programs at Judson are improving in year two for the new program.