TEMPE, Ariz. – The Sun Devil women's tennis program wrapped up the final serve of their 2016-17 season with senior Kassidy Jump crossing the final 't' in the NCAA Singles Tournament in Athens, Ga.
Head coach Sheila McInerney's 33rd season at the helm featured several milestones and new heights for the program, including a best-ever finish in the conference standings.
"Overall, I was pleased with our season," said McInerney. "Certainly our third place Pac-12 finish is something the team should be very proud of, as it is the best conference finish in school history. Beating UCLA two years in a row is no easy accomplishment and to see the development of the team, which graduated three of our top four players from last year, was very rewarding. With that being said, you always want to play your best in the postseason and we did not do that this year. I think that will inspire the team to work hard this summer to make sure we are at our best next season when it counts the most."
Last year, the Sun Devil women finished the season with the best-ever conference record at 8-2, but finished fourth in arguably the best women's tennis conference in the country. This season, after graduating three of their top-four players, McInerney led her squad with three new faces to an 7-3 record and a third-place finish in the Pac-12 regular-season standings.
Consistency was seen across all six courts for the Devils, with three of the six women capturing 20-plus wins in singles play.
Jump, who was ranked as high as No. 50 and finished at No. 62 in the ITA rankings, ended her Sun Devil career with a 20-14 record in her final season. The 20 victories moved her into sole possession of 6th on the ASU all-time singles victories list with 85.
On court three, junior transfer Kelley Anderson paced the team in victories with 24 in her first-ever season rocking the Maroon & Gold. During one span of the season, Anderson fired off 11-straight victories and a 14-match unbeaten streak. Her win total is tied for 9th all-time in single-season victories in ASU program history.
Fellow junior transfer Nicole Fossa-Huergo, who transferred from back-to-back Division II National Champion Armstrong State, never lost more than two matches in a row during her first season in Division I action. From mid-January to mid-March, the Italian rattled off eight wins in 11 matches with just two losses. She continued to win six of her last 10 matches with just two losses as well. Her biggest victory came against then-No. 51 Laura Gulbe of Pepperdine on March 3.
Arizona top prospect and freshman Savannah Slaysman found a groove down the stretch of her first year at ASU. The rookie won eight of her last 10 matches with just one loss, finishing with a 20-12 record on court five. A highlight of her freshman season was defeating then-No. 80 Olivia Sneed of Ohio State on Oct. 30.
Slaysman followed in the footsteps of former freshman turned sophomore Sammi Hampton, who took her talents to court two in 2016-17 after a year on court five. Despite stronger competition and a minor injury suffered early on, Hampton continued her success with a 19-13 record, including a victory over No. 68 Anna Sanford of Ohio State on Oct. 30.
Last but certainly not least is the grinder, senior Gussie O'Sullivan. On court six, the Australian-native finished her final season 17-14 and moved into a tie for 20th in all-time victories with 72 during her four-year span. O'Sullivan consistently demonstrated her passion and drive on the tennis court, grinding out matches often into the third set.
In doubles, Jump finished her final season with Hampton on court three, owning an impressive 27-6 record. The duo won 11 of their last 13 matches with just one loss, which featured three ranked victories. From late October through the end of February, they didn't lose a match, racking up 13-straight wins.
Courts one and two featured two new pairs, including Pac-12 champion Alex Osborne and Fossa-Huergo as the Devils' top duo with Anderson and Slaysman on court two.
Osborne wrapped up her senior season with a 17-12 record on court one and the No. 49 ranking at season's end. They captured big time victories against then-No. 29 Minor and Ruder-Hook of Michigan, No. 39 Berg and Cline of South Carolina, and No. 41 Valdes and Failla of USC.
Despite both being new to ASU, Slaysman and Anderson wasted no time finding a groove together, as they started with a 10-0 record in doubles. They went on to finish the season 18-8, including big victories against then-No. 22 Guerin and Ulyashchenko of Wake Forest.
On the Horizon…
While ASU loses another three key pieces in seniors Kassidy Jump, Alex Osborne and Gussie O'Sullivan, the Devils add four new players to the roster in 2017-18 for one of the top recruiting classes in the country.
All four are international student-athletes and will represent South Africa, Great Britain, Czech Republic and Slovenia.
Ilze Hattingh (South Africa) comes in after being ranked No. 49 in the ITF Junior Circuit at one point, and as high as No. 599 on the pro circuit.
Residing in London, England, Lauryn John-Baptiste currently trains out of Gosling Tennis Academy and recently competed at the Wimbledon Junior Championships. She's been ranked as high as 1067 in the WTA world singles rankings and 1278 in the WTA world doubles rankings. In 2015, she also earned the British U-18 National Championship in singles and doubles.
"Lauryn is arguably one of the most athletic players that will have entered our program during my tenure," said McInerney. "She will have an immediate impact for us in both singles and doubles. Lauryn plays an aggressive style from both the baseline and at the net, which Sun Devil fans will enjoy watching. Lauryn's talent coupled with her work ethic should make things exciting in Tempe. We look forward to her arrival in August."
Saša Klanecek will roll into Tempe with some pizazz to her game. The Slovenia native trains out of ŽTK Maribor, which has been rated as the best tennis club in Slovenia for well over the last decade. Klanecek is ranked as high as 952 in the WTA world singles rankings and 1182 in the WTA world doubles rankings. In 2014, she represented Slovenia in the Junior Fed Cup competition.
From the Czech Republic, Teresa Kolarova is the most recent addition to the Sun Devil squad. As recent as 2015, Kolarova was ranked No. 83 in the ITF junior circuit rankings, and as high as 916 in the WTA singles rankings in January and 833 in doubles as recent as February.
McInerney calls it one of her strongest recruiting classes in recent years.
Head coach Sheila McInerney's 33rd season at the helm featured several milestones and new heights for the program, including a best-ever finish in the conference standings.
"Overall, I was pleased with our season," said McInerney. "Certainly our third place Pac-12 finish is something the team should be very proud of, as it is the best conference finish in school history. Beating UCLA two years in a row is no easy accomplishment and to see the development of the team, which graduated three of our top four players from last year, was very rewarding. With that being said, you always want to play your best in the postseason and we did not do that this year. I think that will inspire the team to work hard this summer to make sure we are at our best next season when it counts the most."
Last year, the Sun Devil women finished the season with the best-ever conference record at 8-2, but finished fourth in arguably the best women's tennis conference in the country. This season, after graduating three of their top-four players, McInerney led her squad with three new faces to an 7-3 record and a third-place finish in the Pac-12 regular-season standings.
Consistency was seen across all six courts for the Devils, with three of the six women capturing 20-plus wins in singles play.
Jump, who was ranked as high as No. 50 and finished at No. 62 in the ITA rankings, ended her Sun Devil career with a 20-14 record in her final season. The 20 victories moved her into sole possession of 6th on the ASU all-time singles victories list with 85.
On court three, junior transfer Kelley Anderson paced the team in victories with 24 in her first-ever season rocking the Maroon & Gold. During one span of the season, Anderson fired off 11-straight victories and a 14-match unbeaten streak. Her win total is tied for 9th all-time in single-season victories in ASU program history.
Fellow junior transfer Nicole Fossa-Huergo, who transferred from back-to-back Division II National Champion Armstrong State, never lost more than two matches in a row during her first season in Division I action. From mid-January to mid-March, the Italian rattled off eight wins in 11 matches with just two losses. She continued to win six of her last 10 matches with just two losses as well. Her biggest victory came against then-No. 51 Laura Gulbe of Pepperdine on March 3.
Arizona top prospect and freshman Savannah Slaysman found a groove down the stretch of her first year at ASU. The rookie won eight of her last 10 matches with just one loss, finishing with a 20-12 record on court five. A highlight of her freshman season was defeating then-No. 80 Olivia Sneed of Ohio State on Oct. 30.
Slaysman followed in the footsteps of former freshman turned sophomore Sammi Hampton, who took her talents to court two in 2016-17 after a year on court five. Despite stronger competition and a minor injury suffered early on, Hampton continued her success with a 19-13 record, including a victory over No. 68 Anna Sanford of Ohio State on Oct. 30.
Last but certainly not least is the grinder, senior Gussie O'Sullivan. On court six, the Australian-native finished her final season 17-14 and moved into a tie for 20th in all-time victories with 72 during her four-year span. O'Sullivan consistently demonstrated her passion and drive on the tennis court, grinding out matches often into the third set.
In doubles, Jump finished her final season with Hampton on court three, owning an impressive 27-6 record. The duo won 11 of their last 13 matches with just one loss, which featured three ranked victories. From late October through the end of February, they didn't lose a match, racking up 13-straight wins.
Courts one and two featured two new pairs, including Pac-12 champion Alex Osborne and Fossa-Huergo as the Devils' top duo with Anderson and Slaysman on court two.
Osborne wrapped up her senior season with a 17-12 record on court one and the No. 49 ranking at season's end. They captured big time victories against then-No. 29 Minor and Ruder-Hook of Michigan, No. 39 Berg and Cline of South Carolina, and No. 41 Valdes and Failla of USC.
Despite both being new to ASU, Slaysman and Anderson wasted no time finding a groove together, as they started with a 10-0 record in doubles. They went on to finish the season 18-8, including big victories against then-No. 22 Guerin and Ulyashchenko of Wake Forest.
On the Horizon…
While ASU loses another three key pieces in seniors Kassidy Jump, Alex Osborne and Gussie O'Sullivan, the Devils add four new players to the roster in 2017-18 for one of the top recruiting classes in the country.
All four are international student-athletes and will represent South Africa, Great Britain, Czech Republic and Slovenia.
Ilze Hattingh (South Africa) comes in after being ranked No. 49 in the ITF Junior Circuit at one point, and as high as No. 599 on the pro circuit.
Residing in London, England, Lauryn John-Baptiste currently trains out of Gosling Tennis Academy and recently competed at the Wimbledon Junior Championships. She's been ranked as high as 1067 in the WTA world singles rankings and 1278 in the WTA world doubles rankings. In 2015, she also earned the British U-18 National Championship in singles and doubles.
"Lauryn is arguably one of the most athletic players that will have entered our program during my tenure," said McInerney. "She will have an immediate impact for us in both singles and doubles. Lauryn plays an aggressive style from both the baseline and at the net, which Sun Devil fans will enjoy watching. Lauryn's talent coupled with her work ethic should make things exciting in Tempe. We look forward to her arrival in August."
Saša Klanecek will roll into Tempe with some pizazz to her game. The Slovenia native trains out of ŽTK Maribor, which has been rated as the best tennis club in Slovenia for well over the last decade. Klanecek is ranked as high as 952 in the WTA world singles rankings and 1182 in the WTA world doubles rankings. In 2014, she represented Slovenia in the Junior Fed Cup competition.
From the Czech Republic, Teresa Kolarova is the most recent addition to the Sun Devil squad. As recent as 2015, Kolarova was ranked No. 83 in the ITF junior circuit rankings, and as high as 916 in the WTA singles rankings in January and 833 in doubles as recent as February.
McInerney calls it one of her strongest recruiting classes in recent years.