BETHANY

Coach: Sarah Yoder (32-17 in three seasons at Bethany). Assistant: Rachel Lanctot.

2008 record: 9-6.

Letterwinners lost: 4.

Returning letterwinners: 3. Sophomores -- Mandy Schlabach, Marla zumFelde, Emily Shenk.

Others: Juniors -- Corine Alvarez, Emily Grimes, Sydney Kehr. Sophomores -- You Jin Bae, Ji Eun Han, Ji Hye Lee, Jama Yoder. Freshmen -- Sarah Brew, Emma Caskey, Anna Nafziger, Pooja Patel, Alyssa Ramer, Maria Thomas, Paige Wheeler.

Noting: Schlabach and zumFelde are leading candidates for No. 1 singles. Schlabach went 8-6 last spring at No. 3, while zumFelde was 10-5 at 1 doubles. Shenk split time between the varsity and JV, going 9-7 overall.

Quoting: "So much is up in the air with our lineup," Sarah Yoder says. "We'll definitely be young, but I'm really excited. We've had young talent come in and be successful before. We're having a lot of close challenge matches, so I think we'll have some depth."

Season opener: Today at Goshen.

CENTRAL

Coach: Dave Whittaker (245-100 in 21 seasons at Central). Assistants: Ric Wiskotoni, Danielle Kijak.

2008 record: 7-7 (4-4 NIC).

Letterwinners lost: 3.

Returning letterwinners: 4. Seniors -- Christa Osterloo, Audrey Putnam, Sara Warning. Junior -- Alex Burton.

Others: Senior -- Emily Yu. Juniors -- Carlisha Carr, Erin Drews, Julia Evans, Jordyn Shreiner. Sophomores -- Melanie Brookshire, Helen Corey, Taylor Dygert, Katie Oakley. Freshmen -- Tara Bennett, Annie Drews, Courtney Harris, Abbey Hobson, Katie Merchant, Briqlyn Mohrman, Gabi Nye, Carleen Plunkett.

Noting: Osterloo, Putnam and Warning have been engaging in a tight battle for the three singles positions. Osterloo occupied No. 1 a year ago, while Putnam went 7-8 at 2. Warning was just below .500 at No. 1 doubles, and Burton was likewise at 2 dubs.

Quoting: "We have kids who are working hard," Whittaker says. "It's a group that has revved my engine. We're getting really good leadership from the seniors, and this freshman class is one that could blossom into something special. We're not playing perfect, but I enjoy going to practice."

Season opener: April 14 vs. Northridge.

CONCORD

Coach: Jan Soward (8-6 in one season at Concord). Assistants: Cory Swaller, Zack Ehret.

2008 record: 8-6 (5-2 NLC).

Letterwinners lost: 5.

Returning letterwinners: 2. Junior -- Kasia Serwatka. Sophomore -- Kaley Eakle.

Others: Senior -- Farah Tahmassebi. Juniors -- Addie Allen, Gabby Graber, Jenny Hershberger, Jackie Jenkins, Ashley Miller. Sophomores -- Taylor Angel, Hannan Colbourn, Hannah Davis, Amanda Ganczak, Erin Krah, Lindsay McLain, Victoria Miller, Sam Stone, Erica Warren. Freshmen -- Emelie Bechtel, Kathrin Bennett, Elyse Cooper, Nina Fader, Sadie Parker, Kailee Queener.

Noting: Serwatka, 9-4 a year ago at 3 singles, makes the jump to No. 1, while Eakle remains at 2. Hershberger, Allen and Ashley Miller are vying for slots at 1 doubles..

Quoting: "We have some players who worked hard over the winter, and I feel like we have a lot of potential," Soward says. "We have several girls even or close. It's a young team and it's a hard adjustment from JV to varsity, but I'm excited."

Season opener: Wednesday at SB Adams.

FAIRFIELD

Coach: Mike Filbrun (140-48 in 11 seasons at Fairfield). Assistant: Liz Yoder.

2008 record: 12-4 (8-0 NECC; NECC Tournament champ).

Letterwinners lost: 4.

Returning letterwinners: 5. Seniors -- Ashley Neff, Marla Yoder. Junior -- Kaija Wimmer. Sophomores -- Brooke Boyts, Abbey Neff.

Others: Seniors -- Rachel Bontrager, Lara Breniser, Amelia Loshe-Lind, Elisha Miller, Nicole Minnerup, Krista Morehouse, Maria Pelance. Juniors -- Hannah Hochstetler, Jessica Landis. Sophomores -- Bridget Christner, Cami Hershberger, Chelsea Neff. Freshmen -- Haley Bechtel, Kaelin Bender, Ashley Leer, Nicole Murdoch, Kelsey Stanley, Jama Yoder.

Noting: Boyts went 15-4 at No. 1 singles as a freshman last spring, while Ashley Neff and Marla Yoder teamed for a 14-4 mark at 1 doubles. Abbey Neff finished 16-2 at 2 singles. Each of the four is expected to remain in her same position.

Quoting: "Returning the top of the lineup from last year obviously makes things a lot easier," Filbrun says. "All four girls worked hard in the offseason, have improved greatly, and I look for them to have strong seasons. I think the remainder of the lineup is going to be strong as well."

Season opener: April 14 at NorthWood.

GOSHEN

Coach: Scott Miller (30-23 in three seasons at Goshen). Assistant: Daniel Love.

2008 record: 9-7 (2-5 NLC).

Letterwinners lost: 4.

Returning letterwinners: 3. Senior -- Ellie Berry. Junior -- Mackenzie Rozelle. Sophomore -- Anika Baumgartner.

Others: Seniors -- Melissa Hostetler, Haley Linn, Brittany Padgett. Juniors -- Katie Miller, MacKenzie Miller, Nancy Swihart. Sophomores -- Robyn Hathaway, Sofia Hess, Lauren Lehman, Gladys Rosas. Freshmen -- Leah Amstutz, Brittany Graber, Leanne Miller, Kelly Weaver, Andrea Yeater, Lauren Yoder.

Noting: Berry, 11-4 last spring at 3 singles, moves up to No. 1. Rozelle and Baumgartner teamed for an 11-7 mark at 2 doubles, but are likely headed for singles play this season.

Quoting: "Doubles is wide open and very even," Scott Miller says. "Our whole team is pretty even. We might struggle at times at the top spots, but it's been a good group to work with. What's been nice, for all teams, is the weather. I think it was the best first week I've had in nine seasons of being involved with girls tennis. Usually, you lose some days or you're out there all bundled up."

Season opener: Today vs. Bethany Christian.

JIMTOWN

Coach: Tim Courliss (37-8 in three seasons at Jimtown). Assistants: Josh Schwartz, Courtney Wallin.

2008 record: 13-2 (6-0 NSC; NSC Tournament champ; Goshen Sectional champ).

Letterwinners lost: 3.

Returning letterwinners: 4. Seniors -- Brianna Houghton, Ashlee Springsteen, Brittney Stebbins. Junior -- Sarah DeShone.

Others: Seniors -- Kaley Belakovich, Cristen Burke, Theresa Horban. Juniors -- Korie Kelver, Lexi Stone. Sophomores -- Laura Krull, Brianna McGookin. Freshmen -- Aubrey Adams, Morgan Belakovich, Siera Candler, Kaley Funkhouser, Brittany Hachey, Jenna Turpin, Carly Vincent.

Noting: Stebbins, beaten just once last year at 2 singles, moves to No. 1 with the graduation of Stephanie York off the Jimmies' first-ever sectional title team. Springsteen and Houghton are leading contenders at 1 doubles. Each had a winning mark last spring at other positions.

Quoting: "We've definitely lost some solid players, and you can only hope for another year like last year," Courliss says, "but these girls are really coachable and I can see a lot of improvement coming from them. I think we're going to be OK."

Season opener: Wednesday vs. Goshen.

MEMORIAL

Coach: Mitch Kajzer (7-7 in one season at Memorial). Assistant: Ben Kruszynski.

2008 record: 7-7 (3-4 NLC).

Letterwinners lost: 2.

Returning letterwinners: 5. Seniors -- Casey Delucenay, Kelly Emerson, Katie Grubb, Anna Hemmig. Junior -- Anissa Hakim.

Others: Seniors -- Alyssa Dibley, Crystal Moore. Juniors -- Nicole Ford, Ashley McLaughlin, Rachael McNair. Sophomores -- Annamarie Dibley, Katherine Dickerson, Erin Smith. Freshmen -- Kayla Brown, Shannon Gunn, Jessica Scheetz, Mercedez Sibley.

Noting: Grubb, who's never lost in Northern Lakes Conference competition, returns for her fourth season at No. 1 singles. The Bowling Green recruit was 24-1 last spring -- the lone loss coming to Penn's JoHanna Manningham in individual regional play -- and is 70-6 for her career. Delucenay is back at 2 singles. She went 10-7 last spring after posting a 14-5 mark as a sophomore at 3.

Quoting: "We have a strong group of veteran players with extensive match experience," Kajzer says. "The lineup is also strengthened by a group of underclassmen who have been training year-round. The competition has elevated the play of the girls, and I am confident that this will carry into a strong season."

Season opener: April 14 vs. SB Washington.

NORTHRIDGE

Coach: Angie Brenneman (first season at Northridge; 42-6 in three season at Westview). Assistant: Tami Bullock.

2008 record: 17-2 (7-0 NLC, round-robin champ; NLC Tournament champ; Northridge Sectional champ; Northridge Regional champ).

Letterwinners lost: 3.

Returning letterwinners: 4. Seniors -- Rita Jakubowicz, Mackenzie Pletcher. Juniors -- Ella Wynn, Kristin Zakiewicz.

Others: Seniors -- Jackie Kruis, Maya Nixel. Junior -- Jillian Welch. Sophomores -- Ali Bullock, Lawson Chandler. Freshmen -- Kate Ahonen, Rachel Balmer, Jessica Baylis, Samantha Harkrider, Alexis Schmidt, Amy Stoffel, Alanna Wise.

Noting: Zakiewicz returns to No. 1 singles, where she was 15-7 as a sophomore. Pletcher and Jakubowicz -- who were 20-2 and 20-1 at 1 and 2 doubles, respectively, with since-graduated partners -- are likely to pair up at 1 dubs this season. Wynn was 14-8 a year ago at 3 singles. Brenneman, a former NorthWood and Indiana Wesleyan player, is aboard as coach after three stellar seasons at Westview. She sat out of coaching last year due to having twins in the summer of 2007.

Quoting: "I think we'll have a good team," Brenneman says. "We had some key losses (to graduation), but everybody has losses. I've always wanted to coach back in the NLC, so I'm looking forward to it."

Season opener: Thursday at Westview.

NORTHWOOD

Coach: Tif Schwartz (34-37 in five seasons at NorthWood). Assistant: Jenni Wysong.

2008 record: 6-6 (3-4 NLC).

Letterwinners lost: 1.

Returning letterwinners: 8. Seniors -- Jill Focht, Alli Heeter, Kerry Hoffer, Katherine Kitson, Lindsey Mast, Courtney Simpson. Junior -- Melissa Ramer. Sophomore -- Kaci Heeter.

Others: Senior -- Kinsey Streib. Juniors -- Lissette Figueroa, Ashley McClintic, Jerrilyn Thompson. Sophomores -- Ashley Conrad, Christina Figueroa, Taryn Johnson. Freshmen -- Hanna Arch, Kayla Bear, Michelle Bontrager, Danae Ehret, Trista Grove, Lauren Miller, Skylar Vance.

Noting: On paper, the Panthers return their entire starting lineup from a year ago, but No. 2 singles player Kitson remains out indefinitely while continuing to rehab from last year's shoulder injury. Hoffer handled 1 singles last spring, while Focht and Alli Heeter were 8-7 together at 1 doubles. Simpson went 12-6 at 3 singles, while Mast and Ramer teamed for an 11-7 mark at 2 doubles.

Quoting: "We could end up with a lineup similar to last year's or we could change a number of things up," Schwartz says. "We have several players who would be classified as close in ability, so we should have a pretty deep team."

Season opener: April 14 vs. Fairfield.

PENN

Coach: Eric Bowers (15-4 in one season at Penn). Assistant: Kari Allsop.

2008 record: 16-4 (8-0 NIC; Penn Sectional champion).

Letterwinners lost: 4.

Returning letterwinners: 5. Senior -- Cara Rectanus. Juniors -- Meghan Feeley, Kathleen Keller, JoHanna Manningham. Sophomore -- Taylor Atkins.

Others: Seniors -- Mandi Lira, Jenna Richman. Juniors -- Nicole Ditto, Emily Garatoni, Megan Harr. Sophomores -- Katie Durning, Julia Harper, Amy Reber, Molly Sayles, Kara VanHule, Taylor Walter, Becky Yoder. Freshmen -- Alexandra Brinker, Taylor Forbes, Michelle Haramia, Claire Henderson, Colette Keller, Meredith Lee.

Noting: Manningham returns to No. 1 singles, where she was among the final eight individuals in the state tournament as a sophomore last season and finished 25-3. Rectanus went 15-8 while splitting time between 2 and 3 singles. Keller and Feeley were each one win over .500 while filling a variety of spots. Brinker -- the younger sister of former boys standouts Garrett and Troy -- is expected to push right away for the 2 singles slot.

Quoting: "I look for a good season," Bowers says. "A lot of the girls play year-round and we've had very good competition with girls fighting for spots. There are really good players in the NIC, especially at the 1 level, but I think we'll be competitive."

Season opener: April 14 at Concord.

WAWASEE

Coach: Roger Brady (3-13 in one season at Wawasee). Assistant: Cindy Peterson.

2008 record: 3-13 (0-7 NLC).

Letterwinners lost: 5.

Returning letterwinners: 2. Seniors -- Kelsey Mark, Rachael Larson.

Others: Seniors -- Amber Brady, Panochit Pattariya, Plangdee Puttikorn, Lucy Sun. Juniors -- Bethaney Acton, Jamie Aker, Jenn Nichols. Sophomores -- Katie Allen, Lauren Erb, Cayla Hilgenberg, Chelsea Los, Kalyn McDaniel, Andrea Polman, Charlotte Searfoss, Haley Windle. Freshmen -- Karla Allen, Morgan Geer, Mia Hauser, Sophia Katsaroplulos.

Noting: Mark, after missing about half of last season due to a stress fracture in her foot, returns to No. 1 singles.

Quoting: "We don't have the previous tennis experience that some of the kids at some other schools have when they first come in, but it's a hard-working group," Roger Brady says. "Other than Kelsey, it's hard to project who will be where, but we have kids stepping up."

Season opener: Thursday vs. Central Noble.

WESTVIEW

Coach: John Zehr (12-6 in one season at Westview). Assistant: Amanda Zehr.

2008 record: 12-6 (7-1 NECC; East Noble Sectional champ).

Letterwinners lost: 1.

Returning letterwinners: 7. Seniors -- Megan Lambright, Cathy Wingstrom. Juniors -- Michelle Hochstetler, Morgan McFarren, Jessica Purdy. Sophomores -- Tabitha Lehman, Kaitlyn Mast.

Others: Sophomores -- Brittany Gagnon, Andrea Hochstetler. Freshmen -- Cody Bontrager, Jaiden Christner, Stephanie Hostetler, Rebecca Lawhorn, Hayley Lee, Brooke Miller, Mirandi Miller.

Noting: Led by Wingstrom, who was at No. 1 singles, and McFarren and Purdy, who handled 1 doubles, the Warriors return all but one starter from a lineup that posted winning records across the board.

Quoting: "We were second in the NECC and I'm hoping to at least repeat that, but Fairfield has an excellent team and it will be difficult to beat them for the top spot," John Zehr says. "We have a very cohesive group that did a good job of improving during the season last year, and I think we can pick up where we left off."

Season opener: Thursday vs. Northridge.

By Anthony Anderson