With three national championships and 13 team NCAA Tournament appearances in the past 16 years, the Mary Washington College women's tennis team continues to flourish as one of the top Division III programs in the nation. Under the direction of six-time CAC Coach of the Year Ed Hegmann, the 1996-97 Eagles returned to the NCAA National Tournament and won an unprecedented seventh straight Capital Athletic Conference Championship. Along the way, Mary Washington finished with a very impressive 5-1 record against Division I schools.

 

The Eagles return the top four-seeded singles players from a year ago, including two-time Capital Athletic Conference Player of the Year, Kirsten Erickson (Sr./Duluth, MN). Erickson (20-18 at #1 singles) won the regional Rolex/ITA Regional Tournament in the fall, and was selected to participate in the NCAA Division III singles and doubles championships in the spring. Along with doubles partner (and #3 singles player) Leah Morris (Jr./King George, VA), Erickson finished with an impressive 25-8 record at #1 doubles in 96-97, and won the CAC title for the second straight year. The duo also advanced to the finals of the regional Rolex Tournament held at MWC.

 

The Eagles also return both members of the #2 doubles team from a year ago in sophomore Jyoti Schlesinger (Sandy Spring, MD) and junior Kelley Gallagher (Richmond, VA). That pair finished with a 21-5 record in doubles action, with Schlesinger, the reigning CAC Rookie of the Year, ending 23-13 at #2 singles, and Gallagher recording a 20-9 mark in #4 singles play.