The University of Evansville tennis team may be young this season, but first-year head coach Christine Bader is confident the team is on the right track for a successful spring season. The Aces will kick off their season on Friday. They will face Morehead State at 5:00 p.m. on Friday and Georgetown College at 10 a.m. on Saturday  Both matches will be in Morehead, Ky.

"I am really looking forward to this weekend," said Bader.  "The girls had been working very hard and we are all anxious to start up the spring season. The girls had a close match with Morehead State last year, and we saw this team at the Aces Classic. We need to focus on ourselves and stick to the game plan and competing from the get go."

The Aces have just two upperclassmen this season in seniors Allie Cox and Stephanie Millis. The two are the only remaining members of the team that tied the school record with 18 wins in 2007. Cox was one of the team’s leaders last year with 10 singles victories. In the fall, she advanced to the championship match in  the Flight D singles at the Aces Fall Classic. Millis was named a 2007 MVC Scholar-Athlete for her efforts last season and had a strong showing in doubles play in the fall.

“Both of these girls will be missed next year, but they should know they were the founders of this great program,” says Bader.  “They both possess maturity and great leadership skills.”

Also returning from last season are sophomores Kate Chybowski and Pin Sorensen. The duo combined for 11 wins at No. 1 doubles. Chybowski and Sorensen led the team in individual wins with 19 and 11, respectively. Chybowski had two individual flight championships in the fall and also represented UE in the ITA Midwest Regional. Sorensen won the Flight B doubles championship with partner Ashton Schwerin at the Aces Fall Classic.

Payal Sharma also returns this season after redshirting last spring to recover from an injury. Sharma picked up a flight championship in the fall at the IPFW Invitational and finished fifth in Flight 7 singles at the MVC Championships.

The team will have two new faces this year with the additions of Theadora Kotsiou and Ashton Schwerin. Schwerin is no stranger to the MVC, coming to Evansville after playing her freshman season at Northern Iowa. Kotsiou teamed up with Chybowski to compete at the ITA Midwest Regional this past fall. Schwerin won the Flight 3 singles championship at the IPFW Invitational.

“I am so fortunate to work with such a great group of girls,” says Bader.  “We want to create a winning environment. Each day, the girls put forth their effort into their academics and into tennis. We are creating leaders both on and off the court.”