The 1998-99 season was a very memorable one for MWC women's tennis, as the team advanced to the NCAA National Division III Tournament in Trenton, NJ.
The Eagles began the year with a bang, defeating Division I George Mason University in the fall, before opening with three wins on the annual Spring Break trip to Hilton Head Island, SC, including 8-1 wins over Bucknell University and the University of Rochester.
The Eagles went on to finish second at the NCAA South Regional Tournament (which MWC hosted this year), and won an unprecedented ninth straight Capital Athletic Conference crown. The Eagles closed the dual season with an impressive 6-3 win over the College of New Jersey, then returned to Trenton for Nationals, where they fell to UC-San Diego, 7-2, in the first round of the Championship.
The 1999-2000 season should be another in a long line of successful seasons for MWC, thanks to the return of several quality players and the addition of several top recruits. The Eagles return six of eight players from last spring, including four of the top six.
Leading the way is two-time Capital Athletic Conference Player of the Year Lea Schon, who won last year's conference title by a 6-0, 6-0 score, and advanced to the NCAA National Singles Championship for the second straight year. The junior from Richmond, VA carried a very impressive 22-10 singles record a year ago, including a 6-2, 6-1 win over eventual NCAA finalist Jill Mazza of the University of Rochester. Schon coupled with Kelley Gallagher to finish 11-5 at number two doubles, with an 11-2 mark against Division III opponents.
Also returning for.the Eagles is senior Sarah Chase, who competed with departed Leah Morris in the NCAA Doubles championships for two straight years. Chase, who competed at #3 singles for the Eagles a year ago, won 13 singles matches in addition to claiming 16 doubles victories with Morris.
The third returnee from the top six from 1999 is sophomore Steffany Slaughter, who claimed the Capital Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year Award after winning the number five singles tltle at the conference championships.
Slaughter posted a 17-8 record in singles during her freshman campaign, and was 14-8 with Emily Sutliff at #3 doubles. Sutliff won the conference title at the number six spot for the second consecutive year, and ended with a 20-6 overall record in singles. Also back is sophomore Katie Long, who went 9-4 in the top six in singles over the courseof her freshman season, and sophomore Candice Landes.
The Eagles lose two players to graduation, Leah Morris and Kelley Gallagher. Morris participated in the national singles and doubles championships at number two singles, and both Morris and Gallagher each ended their careers with eight conference championships apiece.