Big season in store for ACU

ABILENE -- Despite losing one of the best players in program history, don't expect there to be much of a dropoff for the ACU women's tennis team this season.

Even after losing Irene Squillaci -- who played No. 1 for the Wildcats each of the previous three seasons -- the Wildcats enter the season ranked No. 6 in the nation and return the core of a team that reached the semifinals at last year's NCAA Division II national tournament before losing to eventual national champion Lynn (Fla.).

The Wildcats are coming off a productive fall season that saw Jaclyn Walker and Dina Pavlin take home a third-place finish at the ITA Small College Championships. The tandem find themselves as the sixth-ranked doubles team in the nation and have helped ACU capture a No. 1 regional ranking to start the spring season.

Pavlin enters her senior season with a career record of 55-14 in singles as she reached the second round at the ITA South Central Region Championships as Walker fell in the quarterfinals of singles action.

Also returning are a couple of underclassmen who gained valuable experience in last season's run in the National Tournament. Junior Natialie Friend is one of the Wildcats who will be counted on to compete in the middle of the singles lineup. Friend teamed with junior Lauren White in the fall and the tandem could see action in No. 2 doubles.

Another underclassmen that will be counted on to pick up slack is sophomore Cassie Carver. Carver finished 22-6 in singles and could see some action at No. 3 singles with Friend. Carver also finished the fall season capturing the No. 3 singles title at the LSC Fall Championships.

Also looking for playing time will be be freshmen Hannah Kelley and Madison Hudson.

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Big season in store for ACU

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