Beavers look to improve on 2004 season and fifth place finish in Heartland Conference
By Kate Barringer, sports information intern
August 30, 2005
Coach Jessica Grandey enters her second year and looks to guide the Beavers to improve on their 4-6 overall and 3-4 Heartland Conference record last season. The 2005 squad returns several key players with needed experience as well as adding a few new faces that will help build a foundation for a strong future.
“Even with a team of a lot of new faces they are bonding really well,” Grandey said. “Our strength this year will be our attitude.”
After the loss of top singles player junior Jenna Liechty to a cross cultural trip, junior Lisa Cherry (Waterville/Anthony Wayne), senior Kara Schrock (Middlebury, Ind./Northridge) and sophomore Chelsey Person (Bellefontaine/Bellefontaine) will look to fill the top spots for the Beavers. Senior Rachel Yoder (Harrisonburg, Va./Eastern Mennonite) will also be looked upon for leadership and team play. Freshmen Brittany Zeigler (Telford, Penn./Christopher Dock) and Devra Doan (Wooster/Central 
Christian) will come in to play singles and doubles action. Junior Sarah Hodges (Lima/Lima Central Catholic) and senior Stephanie Welch (Berne, Ind./South Adams) will come in for their first season with the squad.
Last year Bluffton struggled with doubles and hopes to improve that aspect of their game as well as winning the number one, two and three spots. This will help the squad improve on their fifth place finish in the HCAC championships in 2004.
“Our goals for this season are to finish higher than last year,” Grandey said. “Also I want the individual players to have a better record then last year.”
