1 September 1999
CONTACT: Stew Salowitz, (309) 556-3206
New Coach, Veterans Boost IWU Women's Tennis
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. As Sally Mangina has taken over for Barb Cothren this fall as head coach of the Illinois Wesleyan women’s tennis team, she has found the cupboard is far from bare.
In fact, Mangina has six letterwinners, including both co-winners of last year’s "Most Valuable Player" award, back from a team that was 9-7 and placed fourth in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin meet.
"The players are looking forward to building on last year’s successful season and have set some lofty goals," Mangina said. "I’m looking forward to seeing them in competition and they are anxious to play against other opponents rather than just among themselves in practice."
Juniors Nicole Tiberi (Frankfort, Lincoln-Way HS) and Nikki Ogrin (Waukegan, Carmel HS) were last year’s MVPs and will play No. 1 and No. 2 singles, respectively, when the Titans open their dual meet season Thursday (Sept. 2) at Illinois-Springfield.
Tiberi was 9-10 as IWU’s No. 1 singles player last fall and has a two-year singles record of 24-18, making her 15th in IWU career singles victories.
Ogrin was 12-6 in singles last fall, all at No. 2, and in her two seasons, Ogrin has a record of 23-19 and ranks 16th in singles victories at IWU.
Freshman Krista Vogel (Bloomington HS) has earned the No. 3 singles position with her preseason play, while senior Jennifer Collar (Davenport, Iowa, West HS) will play No. 4. Collar was 11-7 overall last year, including 10-5 at No. 5, and her 35-18 career mark places her in a ninth place tie for singles wins at IWU
"Krista is a strong addition to the team and has stepped into the starting lineup as a freshman as a result of her good play so far this fall," Mangina said.
Senior Kerry Fahlbusch (Mt. Prospect, Rolling Meadows HS) and junior Nicole Skalski (Flossmoor, Homewood-Flossmoor HS) are currently IWU’s No. 5 and No. 6 singles players with competition from sophomore Heidi Herner (Wadsworth, Warren Township HS).
Skalski was 13-6 overall and 12-5 at No. 4 last fall.
The No. 1 doubles team will again be Tiberi and Skalski, who were 7-4 with a third-place finish in the CCIW meet last fall, while Collar and Vogel are playing No. 3 doubles.
The No. 2 doubles team pairs Ogrin with senior Carrie Damrow (Orland Park, Sandburg HS), who has been battling a shoulder injury that has kept her from playing singles, Damrow was 11-8 in singles last year and has 26 career singles wins.
Senior Megan Sholar (Godfrey, Alton Marquette HS) and sophomores Elena Zvirbulis (Orland Park, Sandburg HS) and Jeannette Otis (Towanda, Normal Community HS), all of whom saw limited playing time last fall return to the IWU roster while Mangina’s other first-year players include sophomore Alison Oliver (Bannockburn, Woodlands Academy) and freshman Norelle Torno (Orland Park, Sandburg HS).