The Jackson Memorial High School girls tennis team finished 6-12 in a rebuilding 2009 season, but with only two players graduating, the groundwork is in place for a stronger run next fall.
“We have a lot of people coming back. Hopefully they’ll do something during the offseason,” said coach Chris Opdyke.
The seniors who have completed their careers with the Jaguars are first singles player Gabriella Justin and second doubles player Melissa Foligno.
“Gabriella was a grinder. She got a lot of balls back and showed a great work ethic,” said the coach.
Freshman Kayanna Chandler missed part of the 2009 season with an injury but played at second singles when she was healthy later in the season.
“She showed good ground strokes, good technique,” said Opdyke.
Also expected to return in 2010 is junior Meghan Duggan, who split her time between second singles and third singles.
“She was a wall who hit everything back and she comes to the net to put volleys away,” said the coach.
Junior Kelly Cornell saw action at third singles when Duggan played in the No. 2 spot and at doubles.
Megan McDermott, a junior, and Lauren Foligno, a sophomore, played at first doubles. Victoria Mamola, a junior, was the Jaguars’ other second doubles player.