The Helias Lady Crusaders tennis team is going to replace experience with more experience this fall.
Coming off a district championship and a state quarterfinal appearance with a 17-4-1 team record, the Lady Crusaders may have graduated one of their best players in program history, but head coach Margaret Shimkus is confident with the abundance of returners this fall.
"I think teams might be a little surprised that I'm this confident with my team, but I really think we have a solid team," Shimkus said.
That confidence will be tested today when the Lady Crusaders start the season at the Southwest Missouri Invitational, a two-day tournament held in Springfield.
"We are the only Class 1 school that is going to this tournament," Shimkus said. "We'll have to face good competition. (In 2014) we got third and last year we got first. I think that our girls are ready to put it out there again."
Megan Oliver, a senior, will hold the No. 1 singles position for the Lady Crusaders. She placed runner-up in district singles last year to teammate Ashley Dowden, who finished with the most career wins in Helias tennis history and was runner-up at state last fall in Class 1 singles play.
"Megan has really improved," Shimkus said. "She's bringing in a lot of conditioning. Her movement on the court has really improved. She's always been very technically sound and knows the game very well."
Taking the next two spots are Abby Dowden, a junior, at No. 2 and Catherine Conley, a sophomore, at No. 3. Dowden has appeared at state in each of her first two seasons and the two were doubles partners last year, advancing to the Class 1 quarterfinals.
"They bring in that experience," Shimkus said. "They bring in their athleticism as well. They both did a lot of conditioning with basketball."
Elizabeth Conley, a junior, will be the No. 4 singles player, while another junior, Anna Theroff, is No. 5. As of now, Shimkus said junior Grace Twehous will occupy the sixth and final varsity spot.
"Those three practiced a lot this summer," Shimkus said. " I'm look for really good things from all of them."
The Lady Crusaders will also take senior Sarah Ginther, sophomore Martina Lorang and freshman Jessica Cowley to Springfield when they begin their season.
With one state-qualifying doubles team returning, Shimkus said she has been looking at chemistry between players as she pairs her doubles teams this fall.
"You may have someone who's really quick on the court and you may have someone who's just really solid at the net," Shimkus said. "You want it to gel."
Helias has won two straight district titles, but their new district assignment will shift from central Missouri to the southwest part of the state the next two seasons.
"We have a little bit harder of a district this year, but if we work really hard and can get our act together, we'll be OK," Shimkus said.
The Lady Crusaders will play their first home match Sept. 8 at Washington Park against Hickman.