2005 Women's Tennis Update


The 2006 IUS women’s tennis team was one of the youngest and best to ever represent the University. The Lady Grenadiers compiled a 17-3 record in the regular season and were perfect 10-0 in the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

 

Jenni Townsend, a junior, and Academic All American led the squad as a co-captain and posted a 19-5 singles record at # 1 singles and 15-4 at # 1 doubles.  Jillian Becher, a sophomore transfer from Division I Western Kentucky, compiled a 15-4 record at # 2 singles and teamed with Townsend  at # 1 doubles.  Freshman Alisha Smith was everything that Coach Ryall had expected for this talented #3 singles player. Smith posted a 12-1 singles record and won the back draw of the ITA Regional Tournament in the fall.  Smith garnered the key singles victory over Union College at # 3 singles and # 2 doubles to earn the Lady Grenadiers a spot at the national championships.  

 

Junior and co-captain, Leigh Butke,  came through in the clutch as Smith’s doubles partner at the Region 12 tournament with two victories over the University of Virginia and Union College. Sophomore Nikki Cannon made significant contributions and compiled a 12-3 singles record.  Jenna Richie, freshman had a 12-7 record at #5 singles and played #3 doubles.  Jessica Pfeiffer, a sophomore transfer from Murray State, turned in a remarkable 18-1 season at #6 singles.  Pfeiffer and Richie paired up at #3 doubles for a 14-4 record.  Their singles and doubles victories over Union College at the Region 12 tournament were also key to advancing to the national championship.  Townsend, Butke, Becher, Smith, Pfeiffer and Richie were named  to the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Academic Team. Last season the team boasted the highest cumulative GPA in the NAIA.  This year the team won ITA and NAIA All Academic Team awards.

 

We worked very hard on developing winning doubles teams stated coach Bill Ryall.  It really paid dividends as the Lady Grenadiers won their eighth straight KIAC conference tournament.  Jenni Townsend was named the “Player of the Year” and Coach Bill Ryall was selected as the “Coach of the Year” at the KIAC tournament and Region 12 Tournament.  IUS swept all the singles and doubles titles again this year.  All players were named “All Conference” for winning their singles and doubles flights.

 

The IUS women have qualified for the NAIA national championship tournament to be held in May 2006.  This is a back to back trip and the third appearance of the IUS women at the NAIA National Championships. Coach Bill Ryall is very proud of this year’s team and looks forward to their appearance at the nationals.

 

2004 Women's Tennis Update

     

      Tyla Wells, a junior women’s tennis player from Indiana University-Southeast, and Levi McWilliams, a senior men’s basketball player from St. Louis College of Pharmacy garnered the honors. Wells led the IUS tennis team to a top-2 ranking in the NAIA this past year.  She was the KIAC Women’s Tennis Player-of-the-Year and an NAIA All-American selection.  She compiled a singles record 21-2 on the year and was rated 24th nationally in singles and 17th in doubles.  Wells also excels in the classroom where she was an Academic All-American, a Chancellor’s list student and a member of Phi Eta Sigma.

            Head Coach, Bill Ryall, commented,  “She excels in the classroom as well as on the tennis court and sets a good example of good sportsmanship and tremendous work ethic in competition and practice As the team leader she epitomizes and serves as a great role model for fairness, integrity and good sportsmanship.”

 

2003 Women's Tennis Update

 

IUS women’s tennis player Junior All-American and Scholastic All-American Tyla Wells was named “Player of the Year” for the 2003 season by the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.  Women's Tennis Coach Bill Ryall has been named Coach of the Year by the KIAC for the 2003 season.  Ryall, who is in his 7th season at IUS, was also named Coach of the Year in 1998, 1999, and 2000, and NAIA Region 12 “Coach of the Year” in 2001.  The tennis team won the Conference Championship this year by sweeping all six singles and three double championships.  This is the fifth consecutive Conference Championship for the IUS women.  In the seven years of women's tennis, Ryall's teams have been five-time champions and two time runner-up in the conference.