Carrie Hartman

2003 Season Outlook

The winning tradition of the Cedarville University womens tennis program has been well-documented throughout the NAIA tennis world. The Lady Jackets have put together 18 consecutive winning seasons and the trend should continue this spring with four of the top six players returning to action. Cedarville put together another outstanding campaign last season as they posted a school-record 18 wins while capturing the American Mideast Conference and NAIA Region IX championships.

Coach Pam Johnson, now in her 27th year at the helm of the Lady Jackets, sees the potential again for another successful season although there will be a gap left by the loss of the top two players from last year’s squad that finished with a perfect 10-0 mark in the American Mideast Conference.

"We will be in somewhat of a ‘rebuilding’ mode due to the loss of our top two players from last spring,” noted Johnson. “However, the new players are stepping in well and are eager to learn and play at this level. I am excited to see what God has planned for us this year!”

Sarah Rogers

Three seniors on the roster will bring valuable leadership and experience to the Lady Jackets in 2003. Jen Roman posted a 10-6 record at the #4 singles position last season, boasts a career record of 35-16 and will pair with Sarah Rogers in doubles. The two-sport standout was a member of the Lady Jacket NAIA national championship cross country team in the fall of 2001.

Diana Locke, another senior, registered a 14-2 mark in #6 singles last spring and holds a 29-6 career record in two seasons of competition. She was an NAIA, NCCAA All-America and All-AMC Scholar-Athlete. The third senior on the squad is Gretchen Vuurens, who will compete in her first season of collegiate competition.

Carrie Hartman heads up the junior class and will start the season in the #2 singles slot after recording an outstanding 18-3 mark in #3 singles last season. Her career mark of 32-6 is on pace to surpass Amy Gregory’s all-time record of 51 singles victories. Hartman will anchor the #2 doubles team, but she could also see action in the #1 doubles position. She was a member of the All-American Mideast Conference team for the second consecutive season.

Diana Locke

Sarah Rogers registered a 12-5 record playing #5 singles last season as a sophomore. The lefthander has a 26-8 career record and will again be a significant contributor to the squad in both singles and doubles. The other junior on the roster is Ashley Duff who joins the Lady Jackets for her first season of competition.

Sophomore Jolene Nourse recorded a 7-1 singles mark in her rookie campaign and will start the spring season in the #4 singles position. The other sophomore on the roster, Courtney Ruffin, joins the team for her first year of tennis after playing on the Lady Jacket basketball squad as a freshman and is expected to contribute in both singles and doubles.

Coach Johnson is excited about the addition of two key freshmen to the Lady Jacket tennis program. Jodi Kraker was a two-time All-State honoree at Holland Christian in Michigan and will start the season in the #1 singles position. Bethany Staten, a two-time MVP at Hilliard Darby High School, will team with Kraker at #1 doubles to start the year and will battle for a top three spot in singles.

The Lady Jackets will host seven home matches this spring including the NAIA Region IX Tournament. Cedarville will face AMC South Division members Malone, Ohio Dominican, Shawnee State and Walsh while playing a tough non-conference schedule that includes Bluffton, Georgetown, Huntington, Mount St. Joseph, Ohio Wesleyan and Taylor.