Redhawks set sights on OVC tourney

~ Southeast prepares to open its fifth season under coach Mark Elliott

The Southeast Missouri State women's tennis team has its sights on an Ohio Valley Conference tournament berth.

Fifth-year coach Mark Elliott believes earning one of the six spots in the nine-team OVC's postseason event would be a nice accomplishment for the Redhawks, who went 3-19 overall and 1-8 in the league last year.

Southeast opens the season this weekend with two matches in Columbia, Mo., facing Missouri-Kansas City on Saturday and the host Tigers on Sunday. The Redhawks' home opener is Feb. 5 against Bradley.

"Making the tournament will be tough, but that's what we're shooting for," said Elliott, whose 2010 squad finished ninth in what was then a 10-team conference.

Elliott, who led the Redhawks to the program's first OVC tournament berth in four years during his initial Southeast season in 2007, has a roster featuring four returning players and three newcomers.

Sophomore Nikole Novikova had an impressive rookie season last year. She was voted second-team all-OVC, becoming the first Southeast tennis player to make all-conference in two years.

Novikova went 7-10 overall and 3-5 in the OVC at No. 1 singles. Her seven victories led the Redhawks and ranked fourth in the conference. She also recorded four wins in doubles play, including two at No. 1 and two at No. 2.

"I thought Nikole had a very good year for a freshman, especially since she played through a shoulder problem most of the season," Elliott said. "To make the all-conference team was a really nice honor for her."

Senior Ashton Hartley went 2-20 primarily at No. 4 singles in her first season after transferring from junior college.

Also returning are sophomore Laura Garcia, who went 2-8 primarily at the Nos. 5 and 6 spots, and junior Sarah Pettigrew, who was 2-10 at No. 6.

Southeast's top newcomer is freshman Elizabeth Nyenwe, who Elliott said could push Novikova for the No. 1 position.

"I think our top two will be pretty solid with Nikole and Elizabeth," Elliott said.

The other first-year players are freshmen walkons NaJeana Henderson and Lauren Schaper.