Eagles tabbed 4th in East, return to play Feb. 3

University of Southern Indiana Women’s Tennis is projected fourth in the Great Lakes Valley Conference East Division for the 2017 season, according to a poll voted on by the conference’s head coaches. USI also received one first-place vote.

The University of Indianapolis was picked to win the East with nine first-place votes and 87 points. Lewis University was not far behind with 80 points and four first-place votes, while Bellarmine was third with 62 points. USI (56 points) is followed by McKendree University (42), the University of Illinois Springfield (34) and Saint Joseph’s College (24).

In the West, Drury University was selected to win the division for the third consecutive year, receiving 91 points and 13 first-place votes. Rockhurst University was second with 73 points and the University of Missouri-St. Louis was third with 72 points and the final first-place vote. Rounding out the West is Maryville University (53 points), William Jewell College (36), Quincy University (35) and Truman State University (25).

The Screaming Eagles are led by upper classmen, but also have freshman Lauren Hambrock (Terre Haute, Indiana), who played the fall portion of the schedule at number one singles, going 2-0 in dual matches.

Junior Kelsey Shipman (Olney, Illinois) was also 2-0 in the fall at number two singles, and went 4-4 overall. Seniors Brenna Wu (Evansville, Indiana) and Kymberly Brannon (Louisville, Kentucky) went 2-0 in dual matches as well, and also are the Eagles’ number one doubles team.

The Eagles (2-0) will look to stay unbeaten on the year when their spring schedule begins on February 3, when they host Indiana University Southeast at 1 p.m. at the Evansville Tennis Center.