Future bright for

Gazette Sports Editor

sports@gazettepublishingco.com

Bellevue will return five letter winners to the 2008 Lady Red tennis team. After finishing the season 11-7 last year, the Lady Red look to build on that record this season.

Bellevue lost two key members of last year's squad with the departures of Jennie Hartman and state qualifier Sadie Feick. The Lady Red will look for leadership in their three senior captains consisting of Callie Kruse, Jennifer Pugh and Nikki Slosser. Pugh and Slosser are also doubles partners. The ady Red netters return another senior in singles player Adrienne Snyder.

The Lady Red will feature juniors Salli Feick - a letter winner who is a doubles player - and singles player Emily Miller. Also on the squad is sophomore Ophelia Whitmore who joins Feick as a doubles partner.

The Northern Ohio League will be strong again this season.

"Shelby won the league title last season and they return some key players from last year's team. Upper Sandusky will also be a tough opponent," said Lady Red coach Shana Young.

Young likes what she sees so far this year. "The girls have been working very hard. There will be a lot of tough matches this year and it will be key for the girls to not get down on themselves. They will need to keep their confidence up."

Young believes the future of the tennis program looks good. "We have a ton of freshmen out for tennis this season, which has me very excited."

The junior varsity team will feature 10 freshmen girls this fall including Cassidy Pugh, Alyssa Golden, Emily Wallingford, Tonya Posey, Tori Mills, Jessica Brown, Ally Darr, Emily Schaffer, Mercedes Annon, and Chelsta Woodruff. Andrea Skiles is the lone senior on the jayvee tennis squad. Chelsie Consolo is the only junior on the jayvee Lady Red.

The Lady Red will take part in the Clyde Invitational on Saturday, Aug. 23 at 9 a.m.