The 2023 Kalamazoo College women's tennis team will begin its season with a home match on Feb. 4 against Kenyon. The Hornets will look to climb from second to first in the MIAA standings after finishing runner-up to Hope last season. The team competed in the ITA Central Regionals on Sep. 30-Oct. 2 and has been preparing for the season since coming back from winter break. 

Schedule Breakdown

• The Hornets will begin their season in February, with three of the five matches at home. The season and home opener will be against Kenyon on Feb. 4. 
  
  
• As the schedule enters March, Kalamazoo will be spending time on the road, with seven of the nine matches away from Kalamazoo.
  
  
• The MIAA opener is against Alma on Mar. 11, and then the team will have three matches in Florida as well.
  
  
• The Hornets will have three home matches and two road matches in April. 
  
  
• Kalamazoo will play its final home match against Hope on Apr. 15, and the regular season will wrap up at Trine on Apr. 22. 

Roster Breakdown

• Kalamazoo returns nine of the 12 players from the 2022 squad. In addition, there will be five new players to increase the total to 14. 
  
  
• The team will be comprised of five seniors, two juniors, three sophomores, and four freshmen. 

Returning Statistical Leaders

• Renee Torres returns after posting a 12-7 singles record last season, primarily in the #2 spot. She was also a part of the #1 doubles team and went 12-9.
  
  
• Mainly in the #6 singles spot last year was Meghan Killmaster and she finished 12-6. On the #2 doubles team, Killmaster had a record of 13-7. 
  
  
• Sophie Zhuang played most of her singles matches in the #3 spot, going 8-10. She was also a part of the #2 doubles team and finished with an 11-9 record.
  
  
• Mostly in the #5 singles spot, Maddie Hurley went 9-12. She also competed on the #3 doubles team and had a record of 11-10.

Stepping Up

• Lauren Marshall, Olivia Wolfe, Rebecca Elias, and Ivy Walker look to help finish out the lineup after getting a little playing time last season.
  
  
• Lindsey Nedd will join the upperclassman and compete for a spot in the lineup. 
  
  
• Eleni Bougioukou, Soussana Kimbouris, Regan McKee, and Molly Stevison enter their first season of collegiate tennis with an opportunity to help the team. 

Head Coach Mark Murphy

Coach Murphy is entering his 14th season as the head coach of the Hornets. His teams have compiled an overall winning percentage of .556 (139-111) during his time at Kalamazoo. Since taking over the Hornets, Murphy has been named Regional Coach of the Year twice (2014 and 2016). In addition, he has coached players to 16 All-MIAA First Team selections, 11 All-MIAA Second Team selections, and two MIAA MVPs. Before arriving at Kalamazoo, Murphy spent 11 years as associate head men's and women's tennis coach at his alma mater, Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. 

Quoting Coach Murphy

"I am really looking forward to a great season. This is the first spring season to begin normally in three years. We have a great schedule and are excited to compete in the MIAA. Renee Torres, Sophie Zhuang, Meghan Killmaster, and Maddie Hurley return from last season and will all be significant contributors again this year. They are very skilled and bring a lot of experience to our team. Our entire roster has very athletic and skilled players; everyone will have an impact on our success this year on and off the court!"