2009 Women's Tennis Preview

Whittier College Women's Tennis is on the rise.  With a team of young, improving players, they are looking to go far in the SCIAC Conference. 

The Poets have the opportunity to play some of the best competition in the country each and every week.  They will compete at the oldest tennis tournament in the country, the Ojai Tennis Tournament, where past winners have included John McEnroe, Billy Jean King, and Lindsay Davenport.  Whittier will play many of the top ranked teams in the nation such as Redlands, Pomona-Pitzer, and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps.  They also have a tough non-conference schedule, featuring top ranked NAIA schools including Biola University.

This season will be rewarding for the core of this young team.  Joining the Poets tennis team are freshman Kady Oliker, Rachel Aelion-Moss, Hannah Whitehurst, Katie Davidson, and Maryrose Vigorita.  These five newcomers join the squad and are expected to have an immediate impact on the team.  Returning for the 2008 season is junior Cecilia Nava and sophomores Reme Bohlin, Brenda Santana, Madison Stern and Emily Taylor.  With these five returners, the women's tennis program will continue to achieve. 

Joining the team is Graduate Fellow Katie Bell who is excited to be coaching her first year of college tennis.  Katie graduated from the University of Redlands in May of 2008 and has played on the women's tennis team during her four years where she received two second team and one first team all league honors.  "I am very excited and honored to coach these Lady Poets during our SCIAC matches.  They have been working very hard."

Coach Tallakson is optimistic about the year ahead.  "We have much to be excited about this upcoming season," he says.  "We expect to climb the SCIAC rankings and will prepare for a great showing at the conference championship." 

The Poets are set to open their schedule on February 13, 2009, against SCIAC rival University of La Verne on the newly resurfaced Poet Courts given by John and Janet Cauffman.