Last season, veteran RCGC women's tennis coach Kelly Hernandez guided her team on a season-ending magical run that nearly carried the Roadrunners to the very top of the NJCAA Division III championship tournament.
Hernandez and the Roadrunners finished as national runnerup in the tournament in Peachtree City, GA following a 9-1 regular season record and a second place finish in the Region XIX Championship meet at Mercer County Park.
While the Roadrunners will lose nearly every member of that team entering the current campaign, Hernandez nonetheless feels her squad will be competitive during the 2018 season.
"We've gained some talented players, but it will take time to develop a rhythm and to get to know each other," she said. "Last season was amazing, and hopefully the momentum will carry forward."
See below for a preview of RCGC's 2018 women's tennis season.
2018 Women's Tennis Preview
Coach: Kelly Hernandez, Fifth season.
Last Season: 9-1 overall record. National runnerup, NJCAA Division III National Championship Tournament
Season opener: Sept. 14 vs. Brookdale Community College, 3:30 p.m., home.
Returning players: Sophomore Haley Kircher (Pennsville Memorial) will begin the season at No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles. At third singles and second doubles in 2017, she helped the Roadrunners compile a 9-1 overall record, a second-place finish in the Region XIX meet, and a second-place finish in the NJCAA Division III National Championships at Peachtree City, GA.
Promising newcomers: Kayla Demsak-Lisek (Hammonton), No. 2 singles; Emily Custer (Washington Twp.), No. 3 singles; Jessica Williams (Washington Twp.), No. 4 singles; Madison Homan (Paulsboro) No. 5 singles; Tabitha Kephart (West Deptford), No. 6.
Outlook for 2018 season: Despite a youthful team, the Roadrunners do feature some talented athletes and may develop into a top three contender in Region XIX along with Brookdale CC and Camden County College.
Coach Kelly Hernandez on her 2018 Roadrunners: "We do have some talent and I feel we have a chance at success. Like anything else, we need some time to play together as a team and get to know each other before I can really predict anything. In the end hopefully we should be a competitive team."