By Caleb Scott

ADA — The Ohio Northern women's tennis team will look to continue its success during the 2017-18 season both on the court and in the classroom under the guidance of 17th-year head coach Scott Wills. 

Northern finished second in the OAC a season ago after finishing the season 22-5 overall and posting a 7-1 record in the OAC.

Under the Wills tenure, the Polar Bears have been Ohio Athletic Conference Regular Season champions, Tournament champions or runners-up in 15 of the last 16 years, which has included team titles in 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2015. 

During that stretch, ONU has compiled a 127-13 OAC record. Wills enters the season as the all-time wins leader in ONU history with a 329-85 mark.  

In the classroom, Northern has been named an Academic All-American Team by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association for 13 of the last 16 years.

Wills welcomes back seven letterwinners in 2017-18 led by 3-time letterwinner and 3-time All-OAC honoree Lynn Kelly (Mason). Kelly will be serving as the team captain for this year's squad. 

"Lynn epitomizes what Polar Bear tennis is all about," said head coach Scott Wills. "She's one of the toughest competitors you'll find anywhere and leads by example both on the court and in the classroom."

Kelly posted a perfect 5-0 in singles play, rotating between No, 1 and No. 2 singles last season. 

The senior was 8-3 overall in doubles play a season ago, including a 4-1 record in OAC play, all at No. 1 doubles.

Also making her return for Northern is First Team All-OAC honoree and junior Ashley Ochsenhirt (Birmingham, Ala./Briarwood Christian).

Ochsenhirt had a breakout season for ONU as she racked up 23 victories in both singles and doubles play, both ranking in the top-10 in school history for victories in a single season.

Her total of 46 victories was the sixth best mark in school history.

"Ashley has a great all court game and has proven that she can play with anyone in the country," said Wills.

Northern will return a strong sophomore class, which includes five letterwinners, including Kaleigh Cummins(Springfield/Northeastern), Katherine Curry (Oxford/Talawanda), Jordan Dodson (Worthington/Thomas Worthington), Ola Latala (Grosse Ile, Mich.) and Macken zie Wills (Ada).

Latala posted a 20-7 record in singles play, competing primarily at No. 2 singles, while Wills finished with a 20-6 record in singles play, playing primarily at Nos. 4 and 5 singles.

Wills was 6-1 in OAC play, while Latala finished 6-2 in conference action.

Wills posted 20 victories in doubles play, while Latala finished with 19 doubles victories.

Curry and Cummins also posted double-digit victories in singles and doubles play for ONU.

"We'll need our sophomore class to leverage their experience garnered last season to push each other and our team to new heights," said Wills.

Three newcomers will join the team in 2017-18 as freshmen Abigail Carpenter (New Albany/Worthington Christian), Macey Comacho (Hartville/Lake), and Sabine Worthoff (West Chester/Mount Notre Dame) will look to push for time in the rotation.

The Polar Bears open the fall schedule on Sept. 6 as they travel to Defiance to take on the Yellow Jackets at 12 pm before competing with Concordia (Mich.) at 2:30 pm.

Northern will compete in what is considered the strongest Division III fall tournament in the Kenyon Invitational on Sept. 16-17, where the Polar Bears will be joined by several regionally and nationally ranked teams.

ONU will conclude its fall schedule traveling to Oberlin to compete in the ITA Regionals from Sept. 22-25.