APSU Sports Information
Clarksville, TN – Austin Peay State University (APSU) women’s tennis team begins its quest for an Ohio Valley Conference championship with two road matches, the first against Middle Tennessee, 10:00am, Saturday before taking on Chattanooga, 1:00pm, Sunday.
The Governors fell in a heartbreaker in last season’s OVC title match against Eastern Kentucky, but with the EKU tennis program ceasing to exist, the Govs should be amongst the favorites.
Yanes Garcia followed it up by going 8-3 in singles in the fall, including winning two matches at the prestigious Oracle ITA Masters in September. Lidia’s twin sister, Claudia Yanes Garcia, was named First Team All-OVC in her first two years as well.
Claudia went 12-6 in singles last season, playing some matches with her non-dominant left hand due to an injury, and finished 4-1 in doubles in the fall, teaming with her twin sister.
“This year we have a very strong women’s team,” said Governors head coach Ross Brown. “It’s Lidia and Claudia’s final year and it would be awfully nice to end their career on a good note in conference after they have done so much to elevate this program.”
The Govs also return the reigning OVC Freshman of the Year in Fabienne Schmidt. Schmidt finished her first season as a Gov with a 23-5 singles record and continued her great freshman year this past fall, going 7-3 in singles and 5-2 in doubles, which included a third place finish at the SMU Invitational No. 2 Singles Draw. The Germany native was also named First-Team All-OVC a year ago.
Joining Schmidt in returning is her fellow countrywoman, Helena Kuppig. Kuppig, also in her final year, was named Second-Team All-OVC a year ago, boasting a 21-8 overall mark in singles. Kuppig also found success in the fall, teaming with freshman Danielle Morris to win the No. 3 doubles draw at the SMU Invitational.
“We have the best depth we have ever had on our women’s team,” said Brown. “Our doubles is going to be better than it was last year and we truly have a full team this year.”
The Govs welcome two new faces to the roster, with junior transfer Tatiana Lopez and Morris both starting in the fall. Lopez, who transferred from Kansas, was ranked in the top 80 in doubles in the NCAA for most of the spring and went 5-2 in the fall partnering with Schmidt. Morris won the aforementioned No. 3 doubles draw at SMU with Kuppig and had a strong start to her career in the fall, going 4-3 in singles and 4-2 in doubles.
“I really think the key thing is our depth,” said Brown. “Tatiana coming in from Kansas is certainly a plus, Danielle is very talented as a freshman, and Helena has been playing great tennis. Ana (Ana Albertson) has been doing well and I am extremely excited to get going.”
