Women’s tennis sets sights on 2025 success

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – With a blend of four returners and four newcomers, the Simpson women's tennis team enters the 2025 season picked eighth in the American Rivers Conference preseason coaches poll.

Led by second year head coach and director of tennis, Nicole Berger, Simpson aims to make waves in the A-R-C standings in 2025. Coe claimed the top overall spot after receiving six of the nine first place votes and 62 total points, followed by Luther with three first place votes and 59 total points. Wartburg, Central and Dubuque made up the middle of the pack with Loras, Nebraska Wesleyan, Simpson and Buena Vista rounding out the list.

The Storm return four veterans led by senior Savana Walls, along with juniors Grace Peck and Coilee Hynek, and sophomore Hannah Roth. Four incoming Storm will make their Simpson debuts in 2025 featuring sophomore transfer Natalie Collins, and freshman Jay Johnson, Ava Ridenhour, and Gracie Thompson.

Simpson takes to the court on Saturday, Sept. 6 at Central for its season opener, followed by the home opener on Monday, Sept. 8 against Grand View. The two-day A-R-C individual tournament is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 10 and Saturday, Oct. 11 in Cedar Rapids.

2024 IN REVIEW

• The Storm won two matches in 2024, collecting a 5-2 win over Ripon in the season opener followed up by a 7-0 sweep over Buena Vista.
• Individually, Simpson earned 18 victories, led by Grace Peck with five, Bella Tranquilino's four and Coilee Hynek and Savana Walls' two.
• The top doubles pairing proved to Hynek and Walls as the pair collected two of the Storm's seven doubles wins on the year.
• Hynek and Anna Schewe were each named to the CSC Academic All-District teams and Walls joined the duo on the A-R-C Academic All-Conference team.

RETURNERS

• Savana Walls, senior
• Coilee Hynek, junior
• Grace Peck, junior
• Hannah Roth, sophomore

2025 SCHEDULE | 2025 ROSTER

AMERICAN RIVERS CONFERENCE WOMEN'S TENNIS PRESEASON COACHES POLL
1. Coe (9-2, 7-1 A-R-C) – 62 points
2. Luther (13-8, 8-0) – 59 points
3. Wartburg (18-10, 5-3) – 46 points
4. Central (10-13, 5-3) – 45 points
5. Dubuque (4-6, 3-5) – 35 points
6. Loras (11-18, 3-5) – 29 points
7. Nebraska Wesleyan (8-10, 4-4) – 25 points
8. Simpson (2-12, 1-7) – 15 points
9. Buena Vista (0-12, 0-8) – 8 points