Table of Contents INTRODUCTION Quick Facts...................................................1 This is Red Wolves Tennis ..........................2 Tennis Facilities ..........................................4 2009 Outlook...............................................5 Head Coach Marcia Williams......................6 Assistant Coach Marina Engelbrecht..........7 2009 Roster.................................................8 2009 Schedule.............................................8 Player Bios...................................................9 Paula Chelminska ....................................9 Roné van Wyk ........................................10 Jenny Herring.........................................11 Menna Kamal .........................................12 Emily Laing ............................................13 Tina Ojdanic ...........................................14 Leydi Zora...............................................15 Elné Barnard ..........................................16 All-Time Letterwinners..............................17 Year-by-Year Results .................................17 2008 Results..............................................18 2008 Statistics ...........................................19 GENERAL IMPORTANT NUMBERS Welcome to ASU .......................................20 Location ......Jonesboro, Arkansas (60,489) ASU Dept. of Athletics . 870-972-3880 Student Life at ASU ...................................27 Nickname ..................................Red Wolves ASU Tennis Office. 870-972-2795 Athletics at ASU ........................................28 Enrollment.........................................11,490 ASU Sports Information. 870-972-2541 Athletic Facilities.......................................30 Colors ...................................Scarlet & Black Sun Belt Conference . 501-299-9066 Academics at ASU .....................................32 Founded ...............................................1909 Sun Belt Fax . 501-299-9068 ASU Administration..................................33 Home Courts ....ASU Tennis Center (2010), ASU Chancellor Dr. Robert L. Potts .........34 ASU Tennis Courts, Ridgepoint Country SPORTS INFORMATION ASU Dir. of Athletics Dr. Dean Lee...........35 Club, Three Oaks Raquet Club, Jonesboro SID Main Phone Number......870-972-2541 Athletic Staff..............................................36 Country Club, Allen Park Fax.........................................870-972-3367 Jonesboro ..................................................38 Affiliation............................NCAA Divsion I Asst. AD / Sports Info. Dir. Jerry Scott Sun Belt Conference..................................40 Conference......................................Sun Belt Office . 870-972-3405 President ................................Dr. Les Wyatt Cell . 870-243-6021 CREDITS Chancellor..........................Dr. Robert Potts E-mail Address . [email protected] The 2009 Arkansas State women’s tennis Director of Athletics................Dr. Dean Lee Tennis SID . Katey Buckley media guide has been compiled for use by Athletic Dept. Phone ............870-972-3880 Office. 870-972-2541 the media, prospective students and fans. Athletic Web Site........astateredwolves.com Cell . 870-838-5967 It is a publication of the ASU Sports Infor- E-mail: . [email protected] mation Office. HISTORY Assistant SID . Van Provence First year of tennis................................1976 Office . 870-972-2707 PHOTOGRAPHY All-Time Record ..........................324-241-2 Cell . 870-897-5010 Nelson Chenault, Terry Bill, Richard Winning Seasons ......................................21 E-mail Address . [email protected] Bishop (Bishop Photography), Hannah Assistant SID . Anthony Reynolds Dolle, David Stout, Rodney Freeman, 2009 TEAM INFORMATION Office . 870-972-3547 David Minton, Jonesboro Sun, Tom 2008 Record. 13-10 Cell . 870-530-4454 Moore, Van Provence, Ernie Rice, Sun Belt SBC Tournament Seed/Record . No. 7/1-1 E-mail Address . [email protected] Conference. Letterwinner Returning/Lost . 6/2 Mailing Address: Newcomers. 2 P.O. Box 1000, State University, AR 72467 COVER DESIGN Overnight Address: ASU Creative Services Department. COACHING STAFF 217 Olympic Drive, Jonesboro, AR 72401 FRONT: Senior Paula Chelminska, junior Head Coach . Marcia Williams Rone’ van Wyk, sophomore Jenny Herring. Alma Mater. Arkansas State ‘80 Record at ASU . 308-214 (28 years) PRINTING Career Record. Same Arkansas State University Press. Asst. Coach. Marina Engelbrecht (3 years) Alma Mater. Arkansas State ‘06 2009 ARKANSAS STATE TENNIS MEDIA GUIDE 1 astateredwolves.com This is Red Wolves Tennis 2009 ARKANSAS STATE TENNIS MEDIA GUIDE 2 astateredwolves.com This is Red Wolves Tennis Life with Arkansas State tennis is fun, exciting and character building. Friend- ships are built and cultures shared among the Red Wolves tennis team. And, when it’s time to hit the court, it’s all about serious competition and good sportsman- ship. 2009 ARKANSAS STATE TENNIS MEDIA GUIDE 3 astateredwolves.com Tennis Facilities The Arkansas State women’s tennis team will have a new home for the 2010 season as construction on a new tennis facility is underway. The facility will include six courts and is located off Caraway Road just behind the ASU Track and Field Complex. In addition to serving as a new home for the Red Wolves tennis team, it will also be utilized by Arkansas State University’s Health, Physical Education and Sports Sciences (HPESS) Department for classes. The city of Jonesboro has the new Allen Park Courts, currently utilized by the Red Wolves for its home matches when weather permits. In inclement weather, the Jonesboro Country Club, Three Oaks Racquet Club and RidgePointe Country Club gra- ciously offer their indoor facilities for play. ASU Tennis Team at future site of ASU Tennis Center. Allen Park Tennis Courts 2009 ARKANSAS STATE TENNIS MEDIA GUIDE 4 astateredwolves.com 2009 Outlook In her 29th year as the ASU No. 5 and No. 6. Zora chalked up a 15-10 singles record women’s tennis head coach, at No. 4, No. 5 and No. 6 as well. She also finished with Marcia Williams is pushing her 11 doubles victories with three different partners. Oj- 2009 team to be the best yet. danic did not compete last season. With six returning players and only one returning senior, the NEWCOMERS Red Wolves will take on the challenges of a new team and a ASU added two players to its roster after the departure tough schedule. of seniors Renee Branker and Maria Oprea. Jenny Herring joins the Red Wolves “We are looking forward to team as a sophomore from the season, but we need to Copenhagen, Denmark. be ready from the start," She was ranked No. 13 said Williams. "It is not nationally during her going to be easy, but we senior year of high planned a hard schedule school. Elne’ Barnard to get ready for our con- also signed on with the ference tournament." Arkansas State team as a freshman from Port-Eliza- The Red Wolves finished 13-10 beth, South Africa. Barnard won overall in 2008 for their third con- the doubles cup at the 2007 Amanda Coet- secutive winning season and 20th zer High School South African Tourna- winning record under Williams. The ment. team finished .500 at home and posted a winning-record on the road (7-5). SCHEDULE Arkansas State will be looking to this new team to build on the success of last The Red Wolves will face two preseason season. nationally ranked opponents, one pre- season nationally ranked doubles team RETURNING PLAYERS and a preseason ranked individual player in 2009. Coach Williams said she wants Three-year letterwinner, Paula Chelmin- her team to play a tough schedule in ska is returning as the only ASU senior for order to be prepared to take on tough the 2009 season. She finished 15-7 at No. 2 competitors in the Sun Belt Conference in singles play during 2008 and 15-4 at No. 2 Tournament. in doubles play with former ASU player Maria Oprea. Arkansas State has match-ups planned with six SBC teams and 14 non-confer- Rone van Wyk, two-time letterwinner, is re- ence schools. The team will spend most turning as the only junior in the Red Wolves of the start of their season on the road lineup. She finished the 2008 season 20- and finish with eight of their last nine 13 overall in singles competition and matches in Jonesboro before traveling to posted an 8-3 mark at the No. 3 position Denton, Texas for the SBC Tournament with teammate Leydi Zora. in April. Arkansas State will have four players re- turning as sophomores including Menna Kamal, Emily Laing, Tina Ojdanic and Leydi Zora. Kamal finished the past season with a 6-10 overall record, competing mainly at No. 4 and No. 6. Laing finished Paula Chelminsaka, Sr. 5-11 overall in singles, playing at No. 4, 2009 ARKANSAS STATE TENNIS MEDIA GUIDE 5 astateredwolves.com Head Coach Marcia Williams Marcia Williams, now in her 29th year as Arkansas State’s head women’s tennis coach, surpassed 300 career victories last year and has led the Red Wolves to 20 winning seasons since 1981. Williams was a decorated member of the ASU women’s tennis team and one of the top players in the state from 1976 to 1980, but she now spends her time teaching others how to play the game. And, they play the game well. Williams has used her knowledge and expertise for the game of tennis and contin- ually breathes new life into the Red Wolves’ program each year. The 2009 squad should be no exception. A native of Jonesboro, Williams enters the 2009 season with a career record of 308- 214 for a .590 winning