Although the line-up will be much different, the Morton girls tennis team does not have diminished expectations for 2010.
Coming off the first sectional championship in the sport in school history, the Potters are aiming to remain at a high level after some hard work in the offseason.
With three-time defending Mid-Illini Conference champion Metamora’s depth shortened, Morton is one of the teams in the running for the title.
“We have a shot at (Metamora) this year because of their depth,” MHS head coach Pete Martin said.
He added the Redbirds have Taylor Koehrsen and Megan Nguyen, the two best players in the area.
Dunlap, the Potters’ opening opponent in conference play Tuesday, and Washington also are teams to watch, Martin said.
“It should be a lot closer than it was last year,” said Martin of the league.
Morton is seeking its first M-I crown since ’02.
Senior Siera Hasler, a state qualifier, likely will occupy the No. 1 singles slot after a second-team all-M-I effort a year ago.
After having some success in the Tri-County Tennis Tournament, Martin expects Hasler to carry that over to the high school season.
Senior Ashley Gannon and junior Jessica Martin, another one of the coach’s daughters, are expected to fill top-four positions.
Ashley Bohnker, Paige Maurer and Taylor Hartman all kept working at their games after not playing much as juniors and now are lined up for prominent roles as seniors.
Bohnker, Hasler, Maurer and Martin all are captains.
Other members of the team include: seniors Ashley Braker and Olivia Summers and juniors Alicia Jones, Savannah Mitchell, Katie Minesinger and Kyra Bailey.
Doubles combinations were not finalized either late last week, and ultimately, Martin will see how the sectional field shapes up because he thinks two Morton tandems can make it to state again.
Four of the Potters’ top six singles players graduated in the spring.
Paige Clayton and Ashley Martin were three-time state qualifiers. They also appeared a combined five times on the first- or second-team all-conference squads.
Clayton and Ashley Martin also were two-time sectional champions in doubles.
Another state qualifier, Kelly Martin, and Stephanie Burritt also concluded their prep careers.
Morton was anxious to get the season started. The players put themselves in the best position they could be at this point.
“We’re as good as we possibly can be right now,” Martin said.
One schedule item of note is the M-I tournament, hosted by Dunlap, could be conducted at Bradley University. The final decision will come soon.
The Potters will see if their labor on the courts in the summer yields a productive harvest in the fall.
