Lake Forest College Sports Information
Contact:  Mike Wajerski, SID

2005 Preview: Annual Contenders
  

Head Coach Chris Conger
Alli Berry succeeded at number one singles
and doubles as a freshman in 2004.
The Lake Forest College women’s tennis team has qualified for the four-team Midwest Conference Championship Tournament each of Head Coach Chris Conger’s six years and is the only school in the league to finish in the top three each of those seasons. The Foresters also reached the championship match four times and claimed a pair of league titles in that span. Without a senior on last year’s roster, Conger sees no reason the program should not continue or even exceed its current level of success. “Our players have a great approach to the game,” he explains. “They work hard, are extremely competitive, and have a lot of fun playing tennis. Rarely does an entire team possess that type of balance and perspective.”

The squad’s challenge in 2005 is to improve on a 12-5 overall record, 3-1 MWC South Division mark, and second-place finish at the league’s team championship tourney. While that may be a tall order, Conger is confident in his team’s ability and desire to improve. “The first time we played [MWC Champion] Grinnell College last year, we lost 9-0,” he begins. “When we faced them again in the conference championship match, we lost 5-2 and had substantial leads in each of the two unfinished matches. This program prides itself on individual and team improvement throughout the season, and last year was just another great example.”

The Foresters posted a combined record of 67-48 in singles matches and a mark of 36-23 in doubles play during the 2004 season. Alli Berry earned the team’s Most Valuable Player award as a freshman after going 10-7 at number one singles and 12-8 at the top doubles spot, where she was the conference runner-up with team captain Brittany Richardson. Richardson, who reached the finals at number two singles for the third straight year, enters her senior season with a 74-40 career record in singles and doubles play combined. Other second-place finishes at the conference tourney included Jill Chudacoff and Jaime Jackson at numbers three and six singles, respectively, and the number two doubles team of Anastasia Rudkovskaya and Kendal Wapotish.

“While 2004 was a great season,” comments Conger, “we’re looking forward to an even better 2005 and making another run at the conference title.”